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
Investigators determined that four teenage boys were waiting for a bus at the Transit Mall when they were accosted by two young adult men wearing ski masks and dark clothing.
—
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Last season, after Georgetown lost to the Xavier Musketeers, Cooley engaged in a heated argument with an Xavier fan who allegedly accosted one of his players after the final buzzer.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
Some decade and a monster contract extension later, Bonitto is the ringleader of an outside-linebacker group in Denver that verbally accost each other inside the locker room (mostly just Bonitto and Cooper, and mostly in jest) and compete in most every rep inside the facility.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
Senators are accosted daily by a robust Capitol Hill press corps (which once included me and occasionally still does).
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for accost
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Last season, after Georgetown lost to the Xavier Musketeers, Cooley engaged in a heated argument with an Xavier fan who allegedly accosted one of his players after the final buzzer.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
Some decade and a monster contract extension later, Bonitto is the ringleader of an outside-linebacker group in Denver that verbally accost each other inside the locker room (mostly just Bonitto and Cooper, and mostly in jest) and compete in most every rep inside the facility.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
Senators are accosted daily by a robust Capitol Hill press corps (which once included me and occasionally still does).
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for accost
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accost
Verb
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The filing also alleges that video shows Seitz crossed the street after the altercation had initially been quelled, and ran to confront Hernandez and Austin a second time.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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After a foul was called to stop play, Jokic got back on his feet and confronted the Thunder wing, putting his chest into Dort’s.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One of the men – who has pleaded not guilty – was approached by a UFWD official to set up the police station, according to the indictment.—
Rebecca Wright,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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When Eldridge approached, Kent was more than happy to dish out some free game.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While most associations have not encountered this situation to date, being informed and prepared will help prevent confusion, protect resident privacy, and reduce legal risk.—
Peter S. Sachs,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Mar. 2026
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Three Austin Police Department officers encountered a suspect armed with a gun on the street near Buford's Bar, police said at an earlier news conference.—
Tristan Maglunog,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accost. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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