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
When her mother leaves the room for a moment, she's accosted by a demonic entity that toys with her through funhouse-style reflections, creating this evil doppelganger of Judy.
—
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
After the creatures show up, we’re left running (stark naked) through the labyrinthine walls of Hell, as main protagonist Aiden, before being accosted by a deranged cult back in the real world.
—Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Protesters accosted and insulted individual attendees.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 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 the multiple suspects, according to police.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2025
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
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
After the creatures show up, we’re left running (stark naked) through the labyrinthine walls of Hell, as main protagonist Aiden, before being accosted by a deranged cult back in the real world.
—Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Protesters accosted and insulted individual attendees.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 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 the multiple suspects, according to police.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accosted
Verb
-
Around that time in 2016, an undercover FBI agent approached Donna Adelson purporting to extort her with information about the contract killing on behalf of Rivera.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Greenberg approached the project from a similar place.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Lauryn was home in another room when her mom was confronted by police and ultimately confessed to the crimes, as shown in documentary footage.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Accomplished in a bedroom with orange shag carpet and with a crude recording system, Springsteen confronted the dark side of the American dream, as ghosts from his past were catching up to him too quickly for mentor Jon Landau to help beat them back.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Accosted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accosted. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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