1
as in confronting
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 finding
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 facing
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 encountering
There he was flabbergasted to discover video footage of a woman wearing a dark Balenciaga sack dress on the streets of Paris in the ’50s, encountering curiosity and visible scorn.
—
Miles Socha, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2025
When the eye looks symmetrical, that often means the storm is not encountering anything to weaken it.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
This might even account for the ways in which the Gospels portray Jesus as moving freely among the diverse economic and social strata of society, whether encountering Roman centurions or being invited to dine in wealthy homes of the time.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
In some ways, teens today are encountering a more enticing and dangerous system than the generations that came before them, one where counterfeit Oxycodone, Xanax, Percocet and Adderall are accessible on platforms like Facebook, Snapchat and Telegram.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
As more data centers are proposed, developers are encountering populations with a wealth of knowledge about data centers from online searches, media coverage and community groups organized around the state.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 25 Sep. 2025
Stepping into one of Arizona's oldest hotels might feel like time traveling to a different era, following the footsteps of famous figures from the past, or a prelude to encountering a ghost.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Raised in Weirton, West Virginia, Friedman recalled encountering antisemitism as a kid.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2025
Buc-ee’s is also looking to build in DeForest, but that development is encountering a different set of issues related to road improvements.
—Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Miles Socha, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2025
When the eye looks symmetrical, that often means the storm is not encountering anything to weaken it.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
This might even account for the ways in which the Gospels portray Jesus as moving freely among the diverse economic and social strata of society, whether encountering Roman centurions or being invited to dine in wealthy homes of the time.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
In some ways, teens today are encountering a more enticing and dangerous system than the generations that came before them, one where counterfeit Oxycodone, Xanax, Percocet and Adderall are accessible on platforms like Facebook, Snapchat and Telegram.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
As more data centers are proposed, developers are encountering populations with a wealth of knowledge about data centers from online searches, media coverage and community groups organized around the state.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 25 Sep. 2025
Stepping into one of Arizona's oldest hotels might feel like time traveling to a different era, following the footsteps of famous figures from the past, or a prelude to encountering a ghost.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Raised in Weirton, West Virginia, Friedman recalled encountering antisemitism as a kid.
—Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2025
Buc-ee’s is also looking to build in DeForest, but that development is encountering a different set of issues related to road improvements.
—Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encountering
Verb
-
But while Christy flaunts a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles unfold outside it—confronting family, identity, and a relationship that just might become life-or-death.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The star compares calling out the sketch, which poked fun at her accent and teeth, to confronting a bully.—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Iamaleava piloted an offense that looked reborn, finding 42 reasons to believe again.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Culinary skills aside, he’s proven a quick study finding who the power brokers are here and has been working closely with them.—
Carol Cain,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Single service handles not stored facing one direction to minimize hand contact with the business end or with the handle facing upright.—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Partner at NewVest Ariel Ezrahi In such an environment, expanding retail-facing funds becomes an appealing lever, providing access to fresh money even as the traditional institutional pipeline weakens, private-equity players told CNBC.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Goldberg-Polin has become a global advocate for the remaining hostages, meeting with world leaders and speaking publicly about her loss.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
After meeting in high school, the pair began dating in 1972 and split four years later.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Will Shipley would be more of the pass-catching value, and Dillon the early-down and goal-line option, not to say both can’t do both things — hence, the hot hand (and hence for the second time).—
Jake Ciely,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
But the Patriots gave it right back as Rhamondre Stevenson, who has had trouble fumbling early this season, was stripped after catching a pass from Maye.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
James pointed out that Tindall pulled George into a hug and kissed him on the head while the prince and his siblings were greeting well-wishers.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Alicia Keys steps out in a bright red pantsuit while greeting fans outside her Broadway musical Hell's Kitchen in New York City.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encountering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encountering. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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