The phrase "are confronted by" can be replaced by various other synonyms, depending on the context. For example, the term "faced with" can be used in place of "are confronted by" when talking about challenges or difficulties. If you're discussing a situation where someone needs to make a difficult decision, you could say they are "presented with" a choice or have to "deal with" a particular issue. Other possible alternatives could include "encounter," "meet head-on," "come up against," or "be challenged by." Ultimately, the choice of a synonym will depend on what precisely you are trying to convey in a given situation.