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
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Recent Examples of encounter
Andrew McGowan, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
Written and directed by Australian filmmaker Michael Shanks, the movie tells the story of a couple, played by American actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco, who move to the countryside to save their relationship and encounter a mysterious force that draws them closer.
—Peter Guo, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
Gary Greenberg, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
The three women — two from Southern California and one from Colorado — allegedly followed an ICE agent home, livestreaming the encounter and posting the officer’s home address on Instagram.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Verb
The third installment will see the return of Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña’s Jake Sully and Neytiri whose family and clan encounter an enemy Na’vi group called the Ash People.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025
Written and directed by Australian filmmaker Michael Shanks, the movie tells the story of a couple, played by American actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco, who move to the countryside to save their relationship and encounter a mysterious force that draws them closer.
—Peter Guo, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
But that doesn’t rob the encounter of its meaning.
—Gary Greenberg, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
The three women — two from Southern California and one from Colorado — allegedly followed an ICE agent home, livestreaming the encounter and posting the officer’s home address on Instagram.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter
Verb
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Sarah and Chris Cooper, innkeepers of the Margin Street Inn, explained the balance of life in a town where global celebrity meets generations of tradition.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
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Hop on a train ride, meet cute animals at a petting zoo, play games and create crafts.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ready to find your home’s true value?—
Mary Beth Eastman,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
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And while temperatures continue to drop, the breezy ripped jeans have also found a fan in Rihanna, who’s already been spotted wearing the same pair twice.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Israel is facing significant diplomatic pressure abroad, with multiple Western nations recognizing Palestinian statehood -- while also demanding that Hamas can not be part of any future government -- as world leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
29 Sep. 2025
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The Carolina Panthers will face the New England Patriots in Week 4 of the NFL season on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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All these years later, Corigliano’s symphony has outlasted those skirmishes and emerged sounding fresh and exciting and powerful.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
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Although the Hatfield-McCoy relationship has been fraught since the birth of the medium, streaming and cord-cutting has turned financial skirmishes into an existential contest.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Being social with family or housemates may feel off when the Sagittarius moon confronts Venus.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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Mary Castlebury, who was a principal under Pendleton, said her superintendent helped her confront challenges as a fellow Black administrator.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Among the highlights of this section is the Milano beauty trunk, with its striking array of white geometric brushes set against a red lining.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
25 Sep. 2025
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Our tester appreciated the option to turn the brush roll on or off, which helps protect hard floors while still delivering a thorough clean.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Regulators caught off-guard News of Tesla’s Bay Area robotaxi plans unsettled regulators at the California State Transportation Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), according to the emails exchanged on July 25, which were seen by Reuters.—
Chris Kirkham,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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Rodriguez, 23, didn’t spend a ton of time catching in the Yankees’ system due to New York’s abundance of catching prospects, catching only 172 games over six seasons in the minors.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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An investigation is underway into the incident, and investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the fight, according to the sheriff’s office.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
27 Sep. 2025
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Her presence in Congress would put pressure on Republicans amid the ongoing government funding fight.—
Laura Gersony,
AZCentral.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encounter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounter. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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