as in approached
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 accosted
Vanderbilt accosted Redick on the court and had to be restrained.
—
Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
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
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
Taylor was attempting to join her castmates onstage after the 2025 movie won Best Picture, one of six awards bestowed on the dark comedy-action film, when the guard allegedly accosted her and Abdy, reported TMZ.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
All of the laws attacking transgender people actually negatively affect all women… people getting accosted in bathrooms are cis women often.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
In one example, an on-duty Postal Service worker flipped off and verbally accosted Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
—Houston Keene, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Impacciatore, squeezed into a skin-tight Power Rangers suit, performed an entire clowning routine where she’s accosted by abstract embodiments of various winter sports throughout history.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026
The agent accosted and then fired on Routh, who fled in his car and was arrested a short time later.
—Greg Allen, NPR, 4 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
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
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
Taylor was attempting to join her castmates onstage after the 2025 movie won Best Picture, one of six awards bestowed on the dark comedy-action film, when the guard allegedly accosted her and Abdy, reported TMZ.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2026
All of the laws attacking transgender people actually negatively affect all women… people getting accosted in bathrooms are cis women often.
—Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
In one example, an on-duty Postal Service worker flipped off and verbally accosted Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
—Houston Keene, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Impacciatore, squeezed into a skin-tight Power Rangers suit, performed an entire clowning routine where she’s accosted by abstract embodiments of various winter sports throughout history.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026
The agent accosted and then fired on Routh, who fled in his car and was arrested a short time later.
—Greg Allen, NPR, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accosted
Verb
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The spokesperson also said the suspect approached the officer without warning, prompting the officer to react.—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
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From the first shovel in the ground to the final drop of water, Brooke Woods and her family approached the project with a hands-on mindset.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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An employee then confronted the suspect and was punched multiple times before the suspect fled the store, police said.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Whatever the case, Safi allegedly confronted the owner inside the store, eventually getting the attention of Carver, who later argued with Safi and his friend outside the store.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accosted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accosted. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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