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
Most striking are some of the hazards that early photographers encountered—in the nineteenth century, their work required handling cyanide fixatives and flash powder that was explosive enough to shatter windows and blow up houses.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
But the drive reportedly went awry as the group encountered a crowd who were surrounding federal agents and their vehicles.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
About 6 miles southwest of Jaymes' apartment, Terry Murray, 76, and his wife Mickey Murray, 89, who struggles with stairs, encountered their own set of issues at Evergreen Retirement Community in Hartwell.
—Sydney Franklin, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Nov. 2025
When encountered, moose should be given ample space and not approached, Van Hoose said.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
This isn’t the first time China’s human spaceflight program has encountered hazardous debris.
—Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2025
But that is what the Hurricanes encountered on Thursday night at the Watsco Center.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
But even after coming north, her grandparents encountered racial discrimination and struggled to find jobs.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Monterey Bay Whale Watch boat captain and videographer Evan Brodsky encountered an even rarer group of northern right whale dolphins, according to the Associated Press.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
But the drive reportedly went awry as the group encountered a crowd who were surrounding federal agents and their vehicles.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
About 6 miles southwest of Jaymes' apartment, Terry Murray, 76, and his wife Mickey Murray, 89, who struggles with stairs, encountered their own set of issues at Evergreen Retirement Community in Hartwell.
—Sydney Franklin, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Nov. 2025
When encountered, moose should be given ample space and not approached, Van Hoose said.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
This isn’t the first time China’s human spaceflight program has encountered hazardous debris.
—Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2025
But that is what the Hurricanes encountered on Thursday night at the Watsco Center.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
But even after coming north, her grandparents encountered racial discrimination and struggled to find jobs.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Monterey Bay Whale Watch boat captain and videographer Evan Brodsky encountered an even rarer group of northern right whale dolphins, according to the Associated Press.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encountered
Verb
-
Shouts for it will be met by angry fingers jutted towards the various gaffes played ad nauseam on Sky Sports’ weekly Ref Watch, or the mandatory pause before the emotional unleashing as VAR mulls over whether a goal is a goal or just a hoax.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Uncensored, that Fergie met the man, Steve Wyatt, a millionaire entrepreneur from Texas, at the Houston Grand Opera’s British Opera Festival in 1989 and started an extramarital relationship with him soon after.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
About 1,000 people attended an event Monday night by Turning Point USA, the group Kirk founded, at the university’s Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof said.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
-
He’s collaborated with the company since it was founded in 2022.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
However, even after the peace proposal, Israeli sports teams have faced opposition and exclusion.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The agency has also faced criticism for aggressive tactics used by ICE agents in executing the president’s immigration policy.—
Andy Rose 19 hr ago,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Tellingly, the protesters in Nepal’s September uprising angrily confronted Indian TV crews, associating them with the country’s political crisis.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
While other Phoenix players confronted Horry about the foul, Suns forwards Amar’e Stoudemire and Boris Diaw, who were getting up to check into the game, were deemed to have left the bench area and suspended for the critical Game 5.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Police previously said a 2011 Infiniti G37 sedan crashed on the I-30 service road and caught fire.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Instead, my friend and I were greeted by a mostly calm experience, which was surprising for a Friday night in South End.—
Evan Moore
November 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Fellow surfers rushed to help him before he was greeted on the shore by shocked swimmers, per the outlet.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encountered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encountered. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share