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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar 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 accost
Six hours before the armed carjacking in San Francisco, Guevara-Espinoza and his accomplice accosted another individual for his vehicle in Berkeley, prosecutors said.
—
Jason Green, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
As for the landscapes, prepare to be accosted by beauty.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 June 2025
The driver then turned the van around and continued accosting him — that's where the video begins.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 27 Feb. 2025
Among the federal authorities allegedly accosted have been Border Patrol agents.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for accost
Jason Green, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
As for the landscapes, prepare to be accosted by beauty.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 June 2025
The driver then turned the van around and continued accosting him — that's where the video begins.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 27 Feb. 2025
Among the federal authorities allegedly accosted have been Border Patrol agents.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for accost
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accost
Verb
-
No one wants to return home from a long, busy day and be confronted with a cluttered entryway.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Felix is drawn deeper and deeper into the vortex of his darkest desires and is forced to confront his subconscious longings, before discovering that there is only one true wish for him.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Trump clapping as Putin approached, with a grin on his face.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Summer is coming to a close, Labor Day is approaching, and Superman is one of the biggest and best family films in theaters.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Investigators encounter them at multiple times in human history.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Coming back from space, the ship encounters much higher temperatures than the booster sees at lower velocities.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Accost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accost. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share