defy · eyeball · stare down · jaw · settle · reckon · showdown · opponent · fists · chin up · defiant · bold · unflinching · grit · nerve · backbone · clash · tension
IDEA.org / Words / square up to
Related — confront (Face squarely, address directly); face (Head's anterior surface); challenge (Test of ability); stand up to · brave · defy · eyeball · stare down · jaw · settle · reckon · showdown · opponent
CONFRONTATION VS AVOIDANCEsquare up to ≠ shy away from Avoid through timidity; avoid · evade · dodge · duck · sidestep
COURAGE VS COWARDICEsquare up to ≠ buckle under Yield to pressure
responsibility acceptance vs. denialsquare up to ≠ deny Refuse to admit; ignore · shirk · brush off · dismiss · disregard
Word data: Linguabase (CC0) · www.idea.org/words/square_up_to