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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of accost
My wife has had two instances of being threatened and accosted on the streets by crazed individuals.
—
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2025
Coristine and a woman were standing next to their car on Swann Street, several blocks from Logan Circle, when they were allegedly accosted by the multiple suspects, according to police.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2025
Police said that Porter accosted two teenage girls at about 3:25 p.m. Tuesday in unincorporated Cary.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2025
Since the demonstration, masked people with rifles have patrolled the streets of Lincoln Heights, stopping motorists and accosting a business owner.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for accost
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2025
Coristine and a woman were standing next to their car on Swann Street, several blocks from Logan Circle, when they were allegedly accosted by the multiple suspects, according to police.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2025
Police said that Porter accosted two teenage girls at about 3:25 p.m. Tuesday in unincorporated Cary.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2025
Since the demonstration, masked people with rifles have patrolled the streets of Lincoln Heights, stopping motorists and accosting a business owner.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for accost
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accost
Verb
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Later that year, Cobb was charged with seven felonies related to confronting residents with a gun.—
Paul J. Becker,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
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Marcie grows increasingly suspicious of Dennis and organizes a meeting at the end of the work day to confront him.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Do not approach water, wet objects, or metal items.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
4 Sep. 2025
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Hurricane Kiko slowly approaching Hawaii Hurricane Kiko will be closely watched for up to 10 days, AccuWeather Meteorologist Geoff Cornish said.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Over his 29th birthday weekend, encountering his mother, friends and making a new connection, Nino gradually warms to life.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
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But Amin has also encountered the commercial realities that other brands face.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Accost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accost. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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