ENCOUNTER Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

encounter 1 of 2

verb

in-ˈkau̇n-tər

Definition of encounter

as in to meet

to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face quite unexpectedly encountered our next-door neighbor while vacationing in Europe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to find

to come upon unexpectedly or by chance we encountered a host of unforeseen problems during the restoration of our 200-year-old house

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to face

to enter into contest or conflict with the troops encountered bands of guerrilla fighters as they made their way across the desert

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

encounter

2 of 2

noun

as in skirmish

a brief clash between enemies or rivals survived an encounter with the school bully at the local park

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of encounter

Verb

The flight en route from the city of Cascavel to Sao Paulo’s international airport encountered severe atmospheric icing while cruising at 17,000 feet, the probe showed. — ABC News, 23 July 2026 Working in the emergency room for the first time during her internal medicine clerkship feels like encountering a tsunami, as classroom knowledge and limited clinical experiences are suddenly, and forcefully, put to the test. — Tahneer Oksman, NPR, 23 July 2026

Noun

In mountain communities like Crestline, where bears regularly roam neighborhoods in search of food, encounters with people are not uncommon, though one wandering into an office building is considerably more unusual. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026 Animal control officers and rescuers safely resolve encounters with frightened animals every day using catch poles, barriers, treats, owners’ assistance, and patience. — Vanessa Shakib, Oc Register, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for encounter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter

Verb

This can lead to safety and operational concerns that require vigilance to ensure the protection of all meeting participants.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
The decision by the Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee will need to be approved by the full organization, which is scheduled to meet in August.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026

Definition of meet

Verb

The team also found that residents in the Sardinian Blue Zone had higher levels of curiosity and receptiveness to new ideas in general, and were more adept at understanding and sharing their emotions.

— Refractor, Refractor, 27 July 2026
The girls and their parents have found a way to balance it all and stay organized using a calendar.

— Zuri Primos July 27, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026

Definition of find

Verb

What’s different this time is getting to the Diner, as both Santa Monica Blvd (which the Diner faces) and Sunset Blvd are seeing extended road work – some of it due to a water main that burst on July 16.

— Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Two Boston city councilors are pushing for a change in city law that would require Mayor Michelle Wu to report street projects annually as Wu faces criticism for stalling road work before a city employee was killed by a truck.

— Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 22 July 2026

Definition of face

Noun

Pantani had targeted this stage from the start of the Tour and his Mercatone Uno team helped set the pace as the peloton made their way from Saint-Étienne to the foot of the Alpe but even once there Pantani bided his time in the early skirmishes.

— Duncan Alexander, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Tensions were also exacerbated by frequent, and often violent, skirmishes between Chinese and Indian troops along the border.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026

Definition of skirmish

Verb

After Adam Copeland and Christian Cage successfully retained the AEW World Tag Team Championship against Claudio Castagnoli and PAC, The Young Bucks confronted them and pointed at the titles.

— Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Thor confronts Doom but the villain catches his magical hammer and throws it aside easily.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 26 July 2026

Definition of confront

Noun

For a sharper wing, however, Siard suggests using a bent liner brush like her own Rose and Ben Beauty E26 to refine the outer edge.

— Marci Robin, Allure, 24 July 2026
For three summers in high school, Platner worked for the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire, building trails and clearing brush.

— Jasper Craven, New Yorker, 24 July 2026

Definition of brush

Verb

Evans avoided a charging Breakker with a backflip and tagged Dragon Lee, who was rolling until Paul interfered, allowing Breakker to catch Lee in midair with a powerslam.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
But their journey to catch up with the Rivermen proves increasingly difficult, after one of their horses gets caught in a trap.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 20 July 2026