"Met head-on" refers to a situation where two opposing forces or ideas collide with equal force. This phrase can be replaced with several synonyms such as confronted, faced, encountered, fought, and clashed. Each of these synonyms conveys a sense of power and impact but with subtle differences in meaning.
For instance, confronted suggests a deliberate and often challenging meeting of two forces. Faced implies a more passive or unavoidable encounter. Encountered can refer to a chance or unexpected meeting. Fought suggests a physical or verbal battle. And clashed implies a more contentious or destructive meeting.
Ultimately, the choice of synonym depends on the context and intended meaning of the sentence. Nonetheless, these alternatives provide writers with flexibility and precision in their communication.