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
At one point during the dizzying saga, the actor is accosted by two fans at a grocery store who drastically overshare about how much his work means to them.
—
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Security officials accost people on the street and insist upon examining their smartphones, or even turn up unannounced at homes with the same demand, says Stirling.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 1 Apr. 2026
When this writer foolishly forgot her iPods inside the Palais, the 15-minute walk to fetch them — during which I was almost toppled over by wind and accosted by sleet — was enough to make her hole up in her hotel room for the rest of the day.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for accost
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Security officials accost people on the street and insist upon examining their smartphones, or even turn up unannounced at homes with the same demand, says Stirling.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 1 Apr. 2026
When this writer foolishly forgot her iPods inside the Palais, the 15-minute walk to fetch them — during which I was almost toppled over by wind and accosted by sleet — was enough to make her hole up in her hotel room for the rest of the day.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for accost
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accost
Verb
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Meanwhile, their friends are also navigating the ups and downs of love and friendship, confronting the bittersweet challenges of growing up and moving on.—
Rich Heldenfels,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
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What Keynes underestimated, and what many of today’s AI evangelists tend not to confront, is that progress unfolds inside social systems structured by power.—
Christopher Marquis,
Time,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Chicago police said the 27-year-old victim was walking when two armed men approached him.—
Elyssa Kaufman,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
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These days, living through a presidency marked by narrowness and resentment, the grace, humor, and curiosity with which Barack Obama approached the world feel impossibly distant.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
4 June 2026
Verb
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But what about those who have already encountered visitors from outer space?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
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As in any other global city, tourists in the Mexican capital could encounter street-level crimes including pickpocketing, robberies and scams.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accost. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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