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
Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 7 Mar. 2026
The system encountered much cooler air in the Great Lakes area.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
The department also has launched a new web page outlining immigrants’ rights during encounters with law enforcement.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Verb
Surprisingly, science suggests DST may be good for creatures that encounter humans—and, particularly, those that might encounter our cars.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 7 Mar. 2026
The system encountered much cooler air in the Great Lakes area.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
The harrowing encounter took place the day after a historic winter storm dumped nearly 2 feet of snow on the five boroughs.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
The department also has launched a new web page outlining immigrants’ rights during encounters with law enforcement.
—Austin Sanders, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter
Verb
-
That will make meeting exponential demand for chips expensive—and maybe even impossible.—
Nasteho Said,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Turkey has been further enhancing its border defenses to be able to respond to a potential influx of people fleeing unrest after mass antigovernment protests in Iran were met by a brutal crackdown in January that left thousands dead.—
Serra Yedikardes,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national also known as Asif Raza Merchant, was found guilty of murder for hire and attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The neighborhood/area The immediate neighborhood around the resort doesn’t offer much beyond lush greenery, but drive about 15 minutes west to find the famous Alona Beach, a particularly scenic strip of sand bookended by dramatic rock walls.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In all, there will be more than 150 beds available for people with mental health challenges, including 32 for young adults facing a severe crisis.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Open the door to the Chamber, and you're faced with a sink, a vanity, two wardrobes, and two frosted-glass doors, behind which are a shower and a toilet.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The curbs were initially enacted in 2020 after a border skirmish escalated tensions between the world’s two most populous nations.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The incident occurred during a skirmish between counterprotesters and an anti-Islam protest led by far-right activist Jake Lang outside Gracie Mansion.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When confronted with this stat, captain and midfielder Ashley Westwood cracked a joke.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Mar. 2026
-
During that time, the community also confronted wildfires, landslides, coastal erosion, development battles, evacuation challenges and insurance instability.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The observation platforms and stairways on each side of the river became overgrown with brush.—
IndyStar,
IndyStar,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The previously monochromatic brush is now green with pops of color.—
Mindy Schauer,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This level of detail is needed for a robotic model to learn exact hand movements that cannot be caught by the standard human point of view.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Seizures, fights also reported on calls Most of the 911 calls were made by the camp’s contract medical staff.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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Pinkston player Charles Riley (12) and Kimball player Kayden Gray (00) fight to control the ball during a Kimball High School versus Pinkston High School boys basketball playoff game at the Ellis Davis Field House in Dallas, Texas, on Mar 6, 2026.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encounter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounter. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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