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
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 encountered
Lord Cornwallis encountered these imperial priorities in 1778, when he was briefly ordered to leave America along with four thousand troops during a panic that the French might invade Jamaica.
—
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Though the drones most often bring in typical contraband like drugs, cell phones and weapons, SCDC also highlighted some of the more unusual goods its officers have encountered.
—Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 3 May 2026
After a second 911 call, a Gary Police officer encountered Ashley and the children.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Their charges are the result of an investigation police launched after officers encountered a total of seven individuals — on two separate occasions — overdosing on narcotics in the same general area of the Prospect Avenue Corridor.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
Despite that fast-track status, RP1 has encountered more hurdles from the agency than was expected by Replimune Group, the company producing the drug.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 2 May 2026
The massive rocket has encountered a number of anomalies and failures since its debut, including fiery explosions both on the test stand and mid-flight that have attracted plenty of headlines.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Indigenous, European, and African American communities each encountered and interpreted sassafras within their own frameworks, often in dialogue with one another.
—Kari Traylor, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2026
This longing for a more tangible experience reflects the broader nostalgia that has shaped Gen Z’s coming of age—nostalgia for a past that many did not experience firsthand, but instead encountered through images.
—Jalil Johnson, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Though the drones most often bring in typical contraband like drugs, cell phones and weapons, SCDC also highlighted some of the more unusual goods its officers have encountered.
—Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 3 May 2026
After a second 911 call, a Gary Police officer encountered Ashley and the children.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Their charges are the result of an investigation police launched after officers encountered a total of seven individuals — on two separate occasions — overdosing on narcotics in the same general area of the Prospect Avenue Corridor.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
Despite that fast-track status, RP1 has encountered more hurdles from the agency than was expected by Replimune Group, the company producing the drug.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 2 May 2026
The massive rocket has encountered a number of anomalies and failures since its debut, including fiery explosions both on the test stand and mid-flight that have attracted plenty of headlines.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Indigenous, European, and African American communities each encountered and interpreted sassafras within their own frameworks, often in dialogue with one another.
—Kari Traylor, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2026
This longing for a more tangible experience reflects the broader nostalgia that has shaped Gen Z’s coming of age—nostalgia for a past that many did not experience firsthand, but instead encountered through images.
—Jalil Johnson, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encountered
Verb
-
What are the expectations, and can those expectations be met right away?—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Roycemore Board member Kevin Foote told parents on the Wednesday call, according to the transcript, that the unidentified donor has committed to providing funding through the school’s graduation in June, but beyond that, certain criteria must be met.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The Chicago Defender newspaper was founded.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
-
It was founded in 1998 by Germaine Acogny, who is widely regarded as the mother of African contemporary dance.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
We now are faced with missing holidays with them to comply with their demands.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
-
In Chris Robinson’s eight years as Lake Highland Prep’s girls lacrosse head coach the Highlanders have faced American Heritage of Delray Beach every year in the final four, with most of those games coming down to the last minute.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The driver initially stopped but drove away before officers arrived, and later denied involvement when confronted by a family member who followed the vehicle.—
Ian Cummings,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
-
Lehman testified at trial the couple was staying at a nearby hotel – which McIntyre paid for – when the other man confronted them.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
And Bona, a second-year reserve, got caught too many times reaching in the cookie jar while defending Towns.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
Before that drama began, however, five of the first six outs of the game were grounders to Deegan, which caught the eye of Dundee-Crown coach Andrew Zimmer.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
In the United Kingdom, attendees at last year’s conference of the Reform Party were greeted by a cardboard cutout of the Party’s leader, Nigel Farage, holding up a gold coin as a spokesperson for the precious-metal dealer Direct Bullion.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Returning home, he was greeted not only by Sakeena still active, but also by the vibrant smells of cooking.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encountered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encountered. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
