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
Server Josh Garner says he was accosted last week by an angry man.
—
Tovia Smith, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
Sometimes the school nurse would accost me in the halls.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 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 multiple suspects, according to police.
—Beatrice Peterson, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025
According to a police affidavit based on hotel video footage of the scuffle and the driver’s statement to authorities, Sanchez accosted the driver of a box truck that backed into the loading docks at a hotel.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for accost
Tovia Smith, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
Sometimes the school nurse would accost me in the halls.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 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 multiple suspects, according to police.
—Beatrice Peterson, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025
According to a police affidavit based on hotel video footage of the scuffle and the driver’s statement to authorities, Sanchez accosted the driver of a box truck that backed into the loading docks at a hotel.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for accost
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accost
Verb
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Reuters/Social media In Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, some 450 miles northeast of Tehran, video purported to show protesters confronting security forces.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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But after reuniting at Alex's brother David's (Miles Heizer) Barcelona wedding, the pair are forced to confront their feelings.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But videos captured by other observers and members of the public show an ICE agent approaching a Honda Pilot that was stopped on a snowy road and ordering the driver — later identified as Good — to open the door before grabbing the handle.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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How the Overtown museum came about Some years ago, Marilyn Holifield, co-founder of the museum and a partner in Holland & Knight, approached me about creating a museum featuring Overtown’s history, combined with art and technology.—
Dorothy Jenkins Fields,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Safety remains the top concern as trucks encounter unpredictable weather, road debris and human drivers.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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When encountered, moose should be given ample space and not approached, Van Hoose said.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Accost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accost. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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