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
Investigators determined that four teenage boys were waiting for a bus at the Transit Mall when they were accosted by two young adult men wearing ski masks and dark clothing.
—
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Last season, after Georgetown lost to the Xavier Musketeers, Cooley engaged in a heated argument with an Xavier fan who allegedly accosted one of his players after the final buzzer.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
For instance, the Alfie who was very serious about Mindy one night before would not suddenly bail because her ex — whom Mindy blocked everywhere — rudely accosted her at her job.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
Senators are accosted daily by a robust Capitol Hill press corps (which once included me and occasionally still does).
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 2 Dec. 2025
The quick-thinking Secretary of War immediately starts live-streaming the event before being accosted by Director of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who ends up shooting a dog in a scenario seemingly plucked from Noem’s memoir, which caused a stir during the 2024 election.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2025
Though confused by their new reality in the spirit world, the teenagers willingly decide to carry on as they are accosted by a series of demons such as doctors disfiguring patients, human traffickers, and being plagued by war and terrorism.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Nov. 2025
After delivering remarks at a press conference on the Capitol steps, Johnson prepared to take questions from reporters, but was instead accosted by Houlahan, his Democratic colleague, who delivered a heated plea to reopen the government, as seen in footage shared by CNN.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
But, at a second line, an elderly man with an Eastern European accent, wearing a green corduroy jacket, accosted him.
—Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Last season, after Georgetown lost to the Xavier Musketeers, Cooley engaged in a heated argument with an Xavier fan who allegedly accosted one of his players after the final buzzer.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
For instance, the Alfie who was very serious about Mindy one night before would not suddenly bail because her ex — whom Mindy blocked everywhere — rudely accosted her at her job.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
Senators are accosted daily by a robust Capitol Hill press corps (which once included me and occasionally still does).
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 2 Dec. 2025
The quick-thinking Secretary of War immediately starts live-streaming the event before being accosted by Director of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who ends up shooting a dog in a scenario seemingly plucked from Noem’s memoir, which caused a stir during the 2024 election.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2025
Though confused by their new reality in the spirit world, the teenagers willingly decide to carry on as they are accosted by a series of demons such as doctors disfiguring patients, human traffickers, and being plagued by war and terrorism.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Nov. 2025
After delivering remarks at a press conference on the Capitol steps, Johnson prepared to take questions from reporters, but was instead accosted by Houlahan, his Democratic colleague, who delivered a heated plea to reopen the government, as seen in footage shared by CNN.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
But, at a second line, an elderly man with an Eastern European accent, wearing a green corduroy jacket, accosted him.
—Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accosted
Verb
-
Worrell was approached by his colleagues to be Council president last term, but didn’t actively pursue the role, instead opting to throw his support behind Louijeune, a City Hall source told the Herald.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Officers stopped the pursuit for safety reasons as the car approached 7th Avenue.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Tellingly, the protesters in Nepal’s September uprising angrily confronted Indian TV crews, associating them with the country’s political crisis.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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While other Phoenix players confronted Horry about the foul, Suns forwards Amar’e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw, who were getting up to check into the game, were deemed to have left the bench area and suspended for the critical Game 5.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Accosted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accosted. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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