Might they be synonyms?

[dilodi83]

- I think you should face up to this situation because you cannot do anything else at the moment.

- I think you should settle for this situation because you cannot do anything else at the moment.

I think they mean the same thing...generally speaking, can we consider them as synonyms?

[Tdol]

Not to me. If you face up to something, you accept the unpleasant consequences/punishment, etc. If you settle for something, you accept an arrangement or deal, often taking less than you wanted or thought you deserved.

[dilodi83]

Not to me. If you face up to something, you accept the unpleasant consequences/punishment, etc. If you settle for something, you accept an arrangement or deal, often taking less than you wanted or thought you deserved.

Could you please make some examples just to catch better the differences you were talking about?

[Tdol]

I wanted $20,000 but settled for $10,000.

The deal collapsed and I had to face up to my failure to convince them.