Somehow the very same question when written in E-mail took on a confrontational tone.

Admiral, that confrontational tone is not going to get us anywhere.

She laid a hand on the stone merlon, making herself impossible to avoid, and took an even more confrontational tone.

Before 1982, the industry was largely immune to the impact of imports and bargaining had a more confrontational tone.

Meanwhile, senators on both sides of the debate urged the President to adopt a less confrontational tone.

And that set a confrontational tone for the duration of the 4-hour-16-minute encounter.

And the rolling rallies took on a more confrontational tone.

The result is a new and more confrontational tone for American trade policy.

Several labor leaders said they were irritated by what they described as the secretary's confrontational tone.

International American trade policy has taken on a confrontational tone.