Enfrentar vs. fazer frente a
In Portuguese, both enfrentar and fazer frente a relate to confrontation. However, enfrentar is the general, direct verb for facing someone, while fazer frente a implies a sense of resistance, standing one's ground against a force, or measuring up to a rival.
Enfrentar
B1This implies a direct confrontation or an active decision to handle a person or situation. It is the broad equivalent of to face or to confront and suggests courage or action. It is a direct transitive verb, meaning it connects directly to the object without a preposition.
Você precisa enfrentar o seu chefe e pedir um aumento.
(You need to stand up to your boss and ask for a raise.)
O herói decidiu enfrentar o vilão sozinho.
(The hero decided to face the villain alone.)
Eles vão enfrentar grandes desafios este ano.
(They will face great challenges this year.)
Ela enfrentou os pais para defender sua opinião.
(She stood up to her parents to defend her opinion.)
Fazer frente a
C1This phrase translates literally as to make front to. It carries the nuance of withstanding pressure, offering resistance, or being able to compete with a strong opponent. It is often used to show that someone is strong enough to not be overcome by another force.
Nossa empresa cresceu e agora pode fazer frente aos concorrentes internacionais.
(Our company has grown and can now stand up to international competitors.)
O pequeno exército conseguiu fazer frente ao invasor.
(The small army managed to stand up to the invader.)
Ele não tem dinheiro suficiente para fazer frente às despesas.
(He does not have enough money to cope with (stand up to) the expenses.)
Precisamos de um candidato forte para fazer frente ao atual prefeito.
(We need a strong candidate to stand up to the current mayor.)
Summary
Use enfrentar for the general action of facing or confronting anyone or anything directly. Use fazer frente a when emphasizing the ability to resist, endure, or match the strength of an opponent or a difficult situation.