as in approaching
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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of accosting
Fallon quipped that White must not be able to leave the house for fear of actors accosting him asking to be on the show.
—
Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2026
Maybe the white-haired woman in the Phillies hoodie has done something more egregious than being outhustled for a home run ball in the stands at LoanDepot Park in Miami, and then accosting the dad who retrieved it and gave it to his son for the kid's birthday.
—Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The trailer features minimal dialogue, and Farrell, 49, is seen running through the streets and accosting casino employees at one point.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2026
Maybe the white-haired woman in the Phillies hoodie has done something more egregious than being outhustled for a home run ball in the stands at LoanDepot Park in Miami, and then accosting the dad who retrieved it and gave it to his son for the kid's birthday.
—Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The trailer features minimal dialogue, and Farrell, 49, is seen running through the streets and accosting casino employees at one point.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accosting
Verb
-
With nesting season approaching on Padre Island, the chances of encountering a Kemp’s ridley along the Texas coast go up.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Santaniello is approaching 30 years behind the anchor desk at WCCO.—
Aki Nace,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Caravaggio, born and trained in Lombardy, had a creative boldness based on confronting reality.—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Creditors confronting both foreign trustees and secured interests must evaluate the cost of untangling each layer.—
Ascend Agency,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accosting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accosting. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
