ENCOUNTER Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

encounter 1 of 2

verb

in-ˈkau̇n-tər

Definition of encounter

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

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of encounter

Verb

At 95%, most job seekers have encountered a suspicious job offer, and 98% said today's job market increases vulnerability to scams, a separate Monster report found. — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 As a result, many people are encountering conflicting messages about vaccines and struggling to determine which sources are trustworthy. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

Three separate bear attacks in Colorado on three consecutive days this week are the latest in an alarming rise of human encounters with the wild animals across multiple Western states, officials said. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 The boy lives in Orange County, and the affidavit describes specific encounters between Caruso and the child on a fishing trip, on a cruise out of Miami and during a holiday gathering. — Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for encounter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter

Verb

Where sacred meets celestial Science meets religion in the Vatican Observatory, a centuries-old center of astronomical research.

— Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Paramount Skydance representatives are expected to meet on Monday with the California Attorney General’s office to discuss a potential settlement of the states’ antitrust case, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of meet

Verb

Going into November, an Associated Press analysis found that Wasserman Schultz is the only white Democrat positioned to represent any of the remaining districts with a Black majority or plurality.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
About one in three home sales in the Bay Area were all cash from April through June, Redfin found.

— Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of find

Verb

Fuller is nearly six months into the new position, created as Texas faces growing scrutiny over how school districts handle allegations involving teachers, coaches, and other school employees.

— Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Geopolitical tensions are bringing critical dependencies and chokepoints into sharper focus, while Europe faces growing security threats on its doorstep.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of face

Noun

The controversy is at once new and familiar, reflecting both the dramatic changes that the proliferation of AI has wrought on book publishing and echoing other skirmishes this year in which authors have been accused of using AI.

— Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026
Elsewhere, Kyle Williams went deep again, a starting edge rusher finally popped and a small skirmish broke out on the Patriots sideline.

— Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of skirmish

Verb

Except that a teen-age boy’s experience is not the same as a teen-age girl’s, and that’s the truth that Nidhi has to confront.

— Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
As students prepare for a new school year across the US, families are confronted with a fraught national discussion around vaccines and questions about which they’re required to get in order to attend school.

— Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of confront

Noun

Instead of a pomade stick, Tauber recommends using Oribe Gel Sérum on coils, applying a generous amount around the hairline before smoothing it back with a boar bristle brush.

— Marci Robin, Allure, 21 Aug. 2026
For a deep clean, clean manually with an oven degreaser and a brush or sponge, then the next time with the self-cleaning function.

— Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of brush

Verb

Ba's novels explored women caught between traditional upbringing and modern aspirations, criticizing polygamy, widespread in the country, and patriarchy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Presently, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer that is caught early is over 99%, which is why Andrea says women who find a lump shouldn't wait to get screened.

— Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of catch

Noun

Delphine Boël, 58, eventually won her legal fight and was granted the title of princess.

— Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Lopez has already expressed his ambition to face the winner of the Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn fight next, aiming for an undisputed 147-pound title.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026