encounter vs confront

encounter is a noun but confront is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
encounter	Yes	No	Yes	No
confront	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, confront is a hyponym of encounter; that is, confront is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than encounter:

Other hyponyms of encounter include face, replay.

encounter (noun)	confront (noun)
a minor short-term fight
a casual meeting with a person or thing
a hostile disagreement face-to-face
a casual or unexpected convergence

encounter (verb)	confront (verb)
contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle	deal with (something unpleasant) head on
come together	present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize
come upon, as if by accident; meet with	oppose, as in hostility or a competition
be beset by	be face to face with
experience as a reaction