Synonyms of encounter

encounter 1 of 2

verb

in-ˈkau̇n-tər 

1

as in to meet

to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face

quite unexpectedly encountered our next-door neighbor while vacationing in Europe

Synonyms & Similar Words

• meet
• confront
• catch
• greet
• happen (upon)
• stumble (upon)
• run upon
• run into
• run across
• bump into
• chance (upon)
• face
• cross paths (with)
• accost
• salute
• cross
• pass
• crash (into)
• collide (with)
• hit (upon)
• tumble (to)
• light (upon)
• crisscross
• reencounter
• remeet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoid
• escape
• evade
• shake
• elude
• shun
• dodge
• duck

2

as in to find

to come upon unexpectedly or by chance

we encountered a host of unforeseen problems during the restoration of our 200-year-old house

Synonyms & Similar Words

• find
• meet
• hit (upon)
• run against
• happen (on or upon)
• come across
• run into
• face
• discover
• run across
• pitch (upon)
• confront
• stumble (on or onto)
• light (on or upon)
• tumble (upon)
• run upon
• bump into
• chance (upon)
• luck (out, on, onto, or into)
• turn up
• strike

3

as in to face

to enter into contest or conflict with

the troops encountered bands of guerrilla fighters as they made their way across the desert

Synonyms & Similar Words

• face
• meet
• engage
• fight
• take on
• battle
• contend
• emulate
• oppose
• rival

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• escape
• evade
• elude
• retreat

encounter

2 of 2

noun

as in skirmish

a brief clash between enemies or rivals

survived an encounter with the school bully at the local park

Synonyms & Similar Words

• skirmish
• brush
• fight
• run-in
• argument
• brawl
• quarrel
• battle
• spat
• scrape
• hassle
• squabble
• row
• tiff
• wrangle
• fray

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of encounter

Verb

According to Pennington, Edward Jones has been using AI to better identify common financial scenarios their clients encounter, and gain new insight into both their experience and the emotions associated with it. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Alongside the art for sale, visitors can encounter site-specific works, special exhibitions and public programs that offer various ways into Atlanta’s contemporary art scene and the broader conversations shaping it. — Andrew Alexander, AJC.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Noun

Questions about the allegations have intensified as different accounts of the encounter have emerged. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

Survivors of encounters with the monster later show signs of the film’s unsubtle equivalent to radiation sickness. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026