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
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
Taylor was attempting to join her castmates onstage after the 2025 movie won Best Picture, one of six awards bestowed on the dark comedy-action film, when the guard allegedly accosted her and Abdy, reported TMZ.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
All of the laws attacking transgender people actually negatively affect all women… people getting accosted in bathrooms are cis women often.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
In one example, an on-duty Postal Service worker flipped off and verbally accosted Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
—Houston Keene, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accost
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Taylor was attempting to join her castmates onstage after the 2025 movie won Best Picture, one of six awards bestowed on the dark comedy-action film, when the guard allegedly accosted her and Abdy, reported TMZ.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
All of the laws attacking transgender people actually negatively affect all women… people getting accosted in bathrooms are cis women often.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
In one example, an on-duty Postal Service worker flipped off and verbally accosted Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
—Houston Keene, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accost
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accost
Verb
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Detective Wilson confronted him with a stack of those letters.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The moon’s alignment with Pluto encourages you to confront the elephant in the room.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ships near the blockade face US warnings Vessels that approach the blockade, which is being enforced in Iran’s territorial seas and international waters and not in the Strait of Hormuz, get a warning, Caine said.—
Konstantin Toropin,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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The then victim approached Webster's guard truck and Webster allegedly stabbed him, according to prosecutors.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And yes, any one person who does it might not be encountered often, but the older person may encounter it multiple times (from different people) in the same week.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
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The department has encountered legal challenges to the firings.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accost. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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