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
In that incident, the victim was accosted by two men who demanded valuables.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 31 May 2026
In previous years, the 31-year-old originally from Chicago might have lashed back when accosted on the ice.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 9 May 2026
Robinson, who police say has a previous conviction for indecent exposure and lewd conduct, accosted multiple women in the area on Sunday, police said.
—Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times, 23 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
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 31 May 2026
In previous years, the 31-year-old originally from Chicago might have lashed back when accosted on the ice.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 9 May 2026
Robinson, who police say has a previous conviction for indecent exposure and lewd conduct, accosted multiple women in the area on Sunday, police said.
—Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times, 23 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accosted
Verb
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Last year, Spalding was approached at her home by Joe’s sister Margaret and volunteered a sample of her DNA.—
Ben Brachfeld,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
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Now as the race approached the final backstretch, Serna was ready to pounce.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Bilton’s arrival was immediately met with internal pushback from Pelley, who confronted the new boss during a heated all-hands meeting on Monday.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2026
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Once inside, deputies said, the man confronted the two women who were working at the time, pulled out a handgun and demanded access to the store's safe.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accosted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accosted. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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