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Adversarial vs Confrontational - What's the difference?

adversarial | confrontational |

As adjectives the difference between adversarial and confrontational

is that adversarial is characteristic of, or in the manner of, an adversary; combative, hostile, opposed while confrontational is pertaining to a confrontation; characterized by, or given to initiating hostile encounter; in-your-face.

adversarial

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Characteristic of, or in the manner of, an adversary; combative, hostile, opposed
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=In polling by the Pew Research Center in November 2008, fully half the respondents thought the two parties would cooperate more in the coming year, versus only 36 percent who thought the climate would grow more adversarial . }}

    Antonyms

    * cooperative

    Derived terms

    * adversarial system * adversarially

    confrontational

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Pertaining to a confrontation; characterized by, or given to initiating hostile encounter; in-your-face.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=October 15 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Liverpool 1 - 1 Man Utd , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=It was Liverpool who once again carried the momentum after the break and the recalled Rio Ferdinand was booked for a foul on Suarez, whose confrontational approach and brilliant natural ability was proving hard to handle.}}