as in to confront
to approach and speak to (someone) often in an angry, aggressive, or unwanted way
He was accosted by peddlers selling touristy trinkets on the street. She was so famous that people would accost her on the street and ask for an autograph.
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Recent Examples of accost
At one point during the dizzying saga, the actor is accosted by two fans at a grocery store who drastically overshare about how much his work means to them.
—
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Security officials accost people on the street and insist upon examining their smartphones, or even turn up unannounced at homes with the same demand, says Stirling.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 1 Apr. 2026
When this writer foolishly forgot her iPods inside the Palais, the 15-minute walk to fetch them — during which I was almost toppled over by wind and accosted by sleet — was enough to make her hole up in her hotel room for the rest of the day.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
In one of those, a group of young Israeli soldiers accost Salim and Noor after the military unexpectedly pushes up the Palestinians’ curfew.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accost
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Security officials accost people on the street and insist upon examining their smartphones, or even turn up unannounced at homes with the same demand, says Stirling.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 1 Apr. 2026
When this writer foolishly forgot her iPods inside the Palais, the 15-minute walk to fetch them — during which I was almost toppled over by wind and accosted by sleet — was enough to make her hole up in her hotel room for the rest of the day.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
In one of those, a group of young Israeli soldiers accost Salim and Noor after the military unexpectedly pushes up the Palestinians’ curfew.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accost
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accost
Verb
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That courier was carrying a case containing approximately $67,000 when the two men confronted him in the parking lot, then took the cash and fled in a nearby vehicle.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
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The same difficulty confronts human therapists and psychiatrists.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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With the Fourth of July approaching, officials are urging pet owners to take extra precautions.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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Do not approach water, wet objects, or metal items.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
Verb
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At Wednesday's news conference, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden described the scene investigators encountered.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
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Some pediatricians’ offices delayed placing orders for the shots by months, and multiple states encountered issues when trying to order them through the VFC program.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accost. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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