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
Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Drivers who encounter potholes can call the TDOT hotline at 833-836-8349.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025
Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Even small chance encounters with former classmates feel like something of a homecoming.
—Katherine Polcari, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Verb
In an effort to help the group retrieve it, Guy encounters William Fitchner’s Jasper, a mysterious American who has quietly assumed control and influence over the Talamasca’s London Motherhouse.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Drivers who encounter potholes can call the TDOT hotline at 833-836-8349.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
Alcaraz is averaging fewer than 10 games dropped per match, and his 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2 victory was his second-closest encounter so far.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Even small chance encounters with former classmates feel like something of a homecoming.
—Katherine Polcari, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter
Verb
-
Plenty of agency officials were already put off by the DOGErs, who often issued peremptory orders to meet with them and answer questions.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders and Russell Wilson #3 of the New York Giants meet after the Washington Commanders beat the New York Giants 21-6 during the game at Northwest Stadium on September 07, 2025 in Landover, Maryland.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In each case, magistrate judges had already found probable cause to proceed with the charges forward, yet jurors opted not to return indictments.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The swells will continue to build and increase along east-facing shorelines through the middle of the week, the hurricane center warned.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
-
As the season sets in, many face low mood and energy as shorter days and cooler temperatures lead to more social isolation.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Ideological skirmishes over the motives and obligations of Carpenter’s music include both sincere interrogation of its feminism and smirking counteractive reprisals to that scrutiny.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Later that year, Cobb was charged with seven felonies related to confronting residents with a gun.—
Paul J. Becker,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Marcie grows increasingly suspicious of Dennis and organizes a meeting at the end of the work day to confront him.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Use the floor brush for stairs, the crevice tool for windowsills and couch cushions, and the dusting brush for dusty surfaces.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
-
How exactly does this brush achieve results in such a short amount of time?—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The senior receiver/running back caught a 49-yard pass in the second quarter for a touchdown and added a 90-yard TD run in the third to help the Mustangs to a 26-2 nonconference victory Thursday afternoon over Ag Science at Gately Stadium in Chicago.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
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Drone footage shows crews hosing down a smoking pile of materials that caught fire at a northeastern Massachusetts recycling plant.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Sinner eventually came through in a display of fight and quality in adversity, and now has a day’s rest to manage the problem.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Classes were offered on serving in-fight refreshments and putting on make-up.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encounter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounter. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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