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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Sanchez, who was in Indianapolis for a Fox Sports appearance, was caught on video approaching the driver’s door of a large truck by a nearby hotel, according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by EW.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
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The current shutdown is fast approaching the record of 35 days, which was notched in early 2019 after starting in late 2018.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Solving a problem as large as climate change requires confronting uncomfortable truths.—
Anna Broughel,
Forbes.com,
29 Oct. 2025
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Battling ghosts means confronting death, and throughout Deliver Me from Nowhere, there are long shots of Springsteen staring at elderly men.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Accosting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accosting. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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