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
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
Robert Lang, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2026
The vaccine campaign has been so effective that today, many pediatric medical residents have never encountered an infant hospitalized because of the infection, which can cause days of diarrhea, vomiting, cramps and fever.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
The encounter quickly went south.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Verb
The journey to the screen was a rigorous eight-year process for Stewart, who first encountered the book in 2017 and immediately felt its electric current.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2026
The vaccine campaign has been so effective that today, many pediatric medical residents have never encountered an infant hospitalized because of the infection, which can cause days of diarrhea, vomiting, cramps and fever.
—Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
But a second encounter takes a turn when Audrey finds herself in a vulnerable position, and Eli, a decent guy underneath his prickly exterior, steps up to help.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
The encounter quickly went south.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter
Verb
-
The minors were child actors who met Busfield on the set of the FOX series The Cleaning Lady, where Busfield served as a director, according to the arrest warrant, issued by Officer Marvin Kirk Brown.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Jeff Brady, executive director of communications for the district, said Tiger Team Two met at least once a month from September to December to discuss and evaluate school enrollment, the capacity and upkeep and condition of each campus, finances and boundaries for each school.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Excavators digging at Sizewell C found 321 silver coins last year, dating back between 1036 and 1044.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
These recommendations are based, in part, on studies that have found higher relapse rates among those who stop taking the medication versus those who do not.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cubans already face constant blackouts and long lines at gas stations from a dwindling supply of fuel.—
Uriel Blanco,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Among the big names were Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, both of whom appeared to visit Epstein’s island before the financier faced federal charges in 2019.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At least four videos appear to contradict the administration’s account that Pretti was holding a weapon during the skirmish leading up to his death.—
Karen Cortes,
NBC news,
26 Jan. 2026
-
That led to a small skirmish with the governor’s office.—
Josie Reich,
Hartford Courant,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
During the shooting, Arredondo made a decision to treat the gunman as a barricaded subject and not confront him for over an hour, even after it was confirmed children were trapped in a classroom with the shooter.—
Elise Hammond,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
This could be trying something new, confronting a fear, revisiting a difficult conversation or stepping outside a familiar identity.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This is especially the case with more matte finishes, which can be removed from a surface with too much wiping or too harsh a brush or cloth.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The same brush painted the bleak picture for both schools.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Not long after being resentenced, Thompson escaped from the Harris County Jail in Houston and spent three days on the run before being caught.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This is the wrong time to be caught in these situations.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There was one fight that happened organically when Aspirot dropped the gloves with Kirby Dach after a net-front battle.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Democrats could also attempt next week to strip the DHS component from the legislation and fund the rest of the government while the ICE political fight continues to play out.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encounter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounter. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
