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.
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Recent Examples of accosting
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
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
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The pullback is now approaching both its flat 200-day moving average and a key support zone in the low-380s— a critical level that marked the breakout point in late July and the breakdown zone from March.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
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Brown believes that, along with effort, ease and rest in relationships will become increasingly necessary when approaching love and choosing long-term partners, no matter gender.—
Essence,
Essence,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The footage shows what appeared to be more than a hundred protesters gathered outside a building at night, chanting and confronting lines of armed federal personnel.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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Church member Greg Mikat was shot three times, according to the GoFundMe his sister has organized, sustaining injuries to his leg and chest and remains hospitalized, after confronting the gunman.—
Georgea Kovanis,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Accosting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accosting. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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