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
Probably her most famous photo, an only-in-New-York moment, depicts a heavily garbed Hasidic Jew who has somehow wandered onto a nudist beach at Jacob Riis Park, in Queens, only to be accosted by a stark-naked posing bodybuilder.
—
Arthur Lubow, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Three snaps into his outing, when an Eagles safety banged him a moment after an incompletion, Kelce whirled in anger and accosted him.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025
The body cam footage, however, jerks with panicked motions of the officers who accosted Augustus on the sidewalk, and their breathless attempts after the shooting to put their actions in the most favorable light.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
Haynes’ relatives reportedly told police that the woman had accosted Haynes at his workplace, Highland Hospital.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2025
The Bohemian Rhapsody star reflected on being accosted by police in a new interview.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 18 Jan. 2025
The male and female victims were accosted by more than a dozen armed people and taken against their will to another unit inside the same complex, Chamberlain said.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
When his father Winston (McCarthy, 62) brings Brandon to a rehab facility in a rural area, the father-son duo are violently accosted — and Winston is wounded — while stopping for gas.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Penny accosted Neely on the subway after Neely made death threats against other passengers.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2024
Arthur Lubow, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Three snaps into his outing, when an Eagles safety banged him a moment after an incompletion, Kelce whirled in anger and accosted him.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025
The body cam footage, however, jerks with panicked motions of the officers who accosted Augustus on the sidewalk, and their breathless attempts after the shooting to put their actions in the most favorable light.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
Haynes’ relatives reportedly told police that the woman had accosted Haynes at his workplace, Highland Hospital.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2025
The Bohemian Rhapsody star reflected on being accosted by police in a new interview.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 18 Jan. 2025
The male and female victims were accosted by more than a dozen armed people and taken against their will to another unit inside the same complex, Chamberlain said.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
When his father Winston (McCarthy, 62) brings Brandon to a rehab facility in a rural area, the father-son duo are violently accosted — and Winston is wounded — while stopping for gas.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Penny accosted Neely on the subway after Neely made death threats against other passengers.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accosted
confronted
Verb
-
Internationally, other cities have confronted and overcome similar challenges by optimizing workforce models, adopting phased planning, and leveraging standardized designs.—
Ankit Mishra,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
-
When confronted with the allegations, Lopez-Robles declined a police interview, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
The Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Accosted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accosted. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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