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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of encounter
Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
The exuberance and linguistic force of Midnight’s Children is still, after 44 years, a joy to encounter on the page.
—Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Rumors have swirled that Jaramillo was at the center of an ambush or that his murder was part of planned retribution, but Cordero-Stutz reaffirmed that his death was a random encounter that could have happened to any deputy that day.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Verb
But that is what the Hurricanes encountered on Thursday night at the Watsco Center.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
The exuberance and linguistic force of Midnight’s Children is still, after 44 years, a joy to encounter on the page.
—Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
Grab your pulse rifle, and maybe a shotgun for close encounters, because these are the scariest aliens ever conceived.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Rumors have swirled that Jaramillo was at the center of an ambush or that his murder was part of planned retribution, but Cordero-Stutz reaffirmed that his death was a random encounter that could have happened to any deputy that day.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter
Verb
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So commences a night of harrowing encounters and trauma both physical and mental, starting with Ron and Mike’s trip to meet Oliver at a bar after one of his shows.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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When the Huskies lined up for a 50-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, Ben Barten’s outstretched hand met the ball, sending it skittering across the slick turf.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Investigators also found eight 9 mm casings fired from a Glock pistol at the scene where Holmes was killed, according to the affidavit.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
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In doing so, the judge found he could not be involved in the handling of the separate probes related to the civil fraud investigation and the NRA.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Still, the company faces the same existential headwinds that have scared other would-be moguls away from the news business.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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Chicago is facing a dangerous lake-effect snow event early Monday morning.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Things then turned violent when someone tried to lunge at Black as marshals walked him out of the courtroom, leading to a skirmish appearing to involve about a dozen people.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
2 Jan. 2026
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Other conflict hotspots include India/Pakistan following a deadly skirmish in 2025, Congo/Rwanda, and the ongoing civil war in Sudan.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Reuters/Social media In Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, some 450 miles northeast of Tehran, video purported to show protesters confronting security forces.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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But after reuniting at Alex's brother David's (Miles Heizer) Barcelona wedding, the pair are forced to confront their feelings.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Then, apply the solution to your grout with your brush or scraper.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Clear brush and dense weeds from around your property.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Through the air, their pass-catching group is one of the worst in the playoffs.—
Austin Mock,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Eleven days after the courthouse escape, Hollywood police caught Braddy breaking into a store, the Herald archives say.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The impact of losing enhanced premium subsidies The political fight around enhanced subsidies, which were enacted in 2021 under the Biden administration, is playing out during the ACA marketplace's open enrollment, when would-be enrollees are picking their health plans for 2026.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
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The fights are being broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encounter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounter. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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