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
Server Josh Garner says he was accosted last week by an angry man.
—
Tovia Smith, NPR, 24 Oct. 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 multiple suspects, according to police.
—Beatrice Peterson, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025
According to a police affidavit based on hotel video footage of the scuffle and the driver’s statement to authorities, Sanchez accosted the driver of a box truck that backed into the loading docks at a hotel.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
In the cold and austere German winter (a far cry from Dakar’s physical and cultural warmth), an anxious Nourou acts up outside a hotel and is accosted by a Polish security guard, setting off a minor chain reaction in which Maja intervenes on his behalf, much to his chagrin.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
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
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
Tovia Smith, NPR, 24 Oct. 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 multiple suspects, according to police.
—Beatrice Peterson, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025
According to a police affidavit based on hotel video footage of the scuffle and the driver’s statement to authorities, Sanchez accosted the driver of a box truck that backed into the loading docks at a hotel.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
In the cold and austere German winter (a far cry from Dakar’s physical and cultural warmth), an anxious Nourou acts up outside a hotel and is accosted by a Polish security guard, setting off a minor chain reaction in which Maja intervenes on his behalf, much to his chagrin.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accosted
Verb
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As the victim was leaving her Surprise home to attend a soccer game with her three children, Headrick approached her with a metal bar and forced the family back inside, prosecutors said.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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She had been approached before Leachman accepted the role but had turned it down.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Our 3rd annual Filmmaker Forum, which confronted the massive challenges facing the nonfiction film community and the public media sector, was the most impactful, timely and compelling Forum yet.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
21 Oct. 2025
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Investigators believe gunfire erupted after an ICE officer confronted the suspect’s vehicle and smashed a window with their service weapon, the law enforcement source said.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Accosted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accosted. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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