1
as in encounters
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face
chanced upon my archenemy as I rounded a corner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in finds
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance
I chanced upon your mother in the grocery store yesterday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chances (upon)
Verb
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Police have advised that anyone who encounters Dobbins to contact their local law enforcement agency.
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On Election Day, Schlossberg was campaigning out in the rain despite the concerning polls, hearing stories from passersby about their Kennedy encounters over the years and taking selfies with starstruck supporters.
Verb
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From fashion finds—like Madewell’s set of soft and simple crewneck T-shirts, a fabulous discovery from senior shopping editor Cortne Bonilla’s keen eye—to home steals, such as marketing and production manager Kasey Busiel’s favorite Brooklinen sheets and Talia Abbas’s Moccamaster coffee maker.
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This revival finds new power in the intimate story of a family learning to love again set against one of the most consequential moments of the twentieth century, as the Nazi regime rises to power and authoritarianism encroaches on daily life.
Verb
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Venezuela lies in a seismically active zone where the Caribbean Plate meets the South American Plate.
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The change would allow each of the country’s 36 states to create a police force that meets a minimum national requirement while the federal police retains control of counterterrorism, border patrol, organized crime and other national security issues.
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Cite this Entry
“Chances (upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chances%20%28upon%29. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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