1
as in met
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 found
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
3
as in faced
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encountered
DiSalvo said everyone he's encountered working at PHL has treated him and his family very well.
—
Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 9 June 2026
None of this would have happened — at least not the Marlins’ and Heat’s moves — if Main Street Sports had not encountered economic hardship.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
At Wednesday's news conference, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden described the scene investigators encountered.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
Some pediatricians’ offices delayed placing orders for the shots by months, and multiple states encountered issues when trying to order them through the VFC program.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026
Roughly half of online daters ages 50 and over have encountered a likely scam on a dating site or app, Pew Research reports.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 6 June 2026
But what about those who have already encountered visitors from outer space?
—Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
Both plans encountered staunch opposition from environmental groups and farming advocates and were eventually withdrawn.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
Inside, guests encountered the same thoughtful aesthetic that has defined Tian Tea House, now transformed into a dimmer, more intimate nighttime setting.
—Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026
Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 9 June 2026
None of this would have happened — at least not the Marlins’ and Heat’s moves — if Main Street Sports had not encountered economic hardship.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
At Wednesday's news conference, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden described the scene investigators encountered.
—Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
Some pediatricians’ offices delayed placing orders for the shots by months, and multiple states encountered issues when trying to order them through the VFC program.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026
Roughly half of online daters ages 50 and over have encountered a likely scam on a dating site or app, Pew Research reports.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 6 June 2026
But what about those who have already encountered visitors from outer space?
—Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
Both plans encountered staunch opposition from environmental groups and farming advocates and were eventually withdrawn.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
Inside, guests encountered the same thoughtful aesthetic that has defined Tian Tea House, now transformed into a dimmer, more intimate nighttime setting.
—Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encountered
Verb
-
Larry King and Billie Jean King met at Cal State Los Angeles and married in 1965.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
The game Friday was the fourth year in a row the Colts and Highlanders met in the finals, and with the exception of 2025, the Colts have won each time.—
Ethan Hanson,
Daily News,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Verdigreen, founded by Azie and Travis Shelhorse, specializes in revamping historic inns, with three sister properties in Savannah (the Gastonian, Eliza Thompson House, and Kehoe House) as well as the Hudson Valley and New Hampshire.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
-
According to Solomon Dersso, founding director of the pan-African policy think tank Amani Africa, the US pursuit of its own strategic interests is nothing new.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Those who declined frequently faced intense criticism from media outlets and activists.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
-
Putin has increasingly faced setbacks on the battlefield as a Ukrainian drone strike campaign disrupts critical logistics routes and public support at home wanes.—
Jane Lytvynenko,
NBC news,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Bilton’s arrival was immediately met with internal pushback from Pelley, who confronted the new boss during a heated all-hands meeting on Monday.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2026
-
Once inside, deputies said, the man confronted the two women who were working at the time, pulled out a handgun and demanded access to the store's safe.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
If caught in a rip current, remain calm.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 June 2026
-
Darryl Brown, a sergeant in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, was caught with the missing items after the photojournalist used a geo-tracking device to trace her missing gear to his home, the state’s attorney general said Thursday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
His speech was greeted by sustained applause from the chamber.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
He and his wife Peng Liyuan were greeted by Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju, who broadly smiled and clapped.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encountered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encountered. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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