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
Road rage is a year-round constant in Colorado, but summer can bring more drivers to the state’s roads and increase the chance of encountering an aggressive driver, Mendez said.
—
Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 June 2026
What to know about the weather The event is encountering significant threats due to weather.
—Isabella Murray, ABC News, 14 June 2026
Red and blue counties alike that are entertaining these proposals are encountering the same buzz saw.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Because Spielberg occasionally collaborates with his buddy George Lucas, Indy (Harrison Ford) isn’t encountering any straightforward aliens from another world during the film’s loopy climax.
—Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Mistakes to Avoid Avoid these mistakes when encountering a baby bird out of its nest to prevent the situation from worsening.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 10 June 2026
Police said the two suspects were seen walking in the area of 20th Street between Ritner and Jackson streets before encountering Schmidt at 20th and Durfor streets.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Even in the final year of President Joe Biden’s tenure, FIFA were encountering difficulties.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 9 June 2026
Others are encountering problems as well.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 June 2026
What to know about the weather The event is encountering significant threats due to weather.
—Isabella Murray, ABC News, 14 June 2026
Red and blue counties alike that are entertaining these proposals are encountering the same buzz saw.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Because Spielberg occasionally collaborates with his buddy George Lucas, Indy (Harrison Ford) isn’t encountering any straightforward aliens from another world during the film’s loopy climax.
—Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Mistakes to Avoid Avoid these mistakes when encountering a baby bird out of its nest to prevent the situation from worsening.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 10 June 2026
Police said the two suspects were seen walking in the area of 20th Street between Ritner and Jackson streets before encountering Schmidt at 20th and Durfor streets.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Even in the final year of President Joe Biden’s tenure, FIFA were encountering difficulties.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 9 June 2026
Others are encountering problems as well.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encountering
Verb
-
Not that visual impact is unimportant, but how a cast of characters exists in space and time while confronting a specific set of circumstances, conceived of by a playwright at a specific moment with its own set of theatrical mores, is vital.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
12 June 2026
-
The aftermath of San Antonio’s Game 3 victory spilled beyond the arena, as social media videos seemingly showed Knicks fans physically confronting Spurs supporters.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Prescott went in-depth on Thursday about how the film aspect of preparing for blitzes is one of the biggest keys in finding success when it’s thrown at him.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Because southern Greenland’s caribou are nonmigratory, finding a herd is the second-hardest part of hunting them.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The hotel's Ajax Tavern, directly facing the mountain, has indoor and outdoor seating and is a great spot for a drink or hot bowl of soup (or, why not, a Wagyu cheeseburger with truffle fries) while watching people make their final runs down at the end of the day.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
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The other individual in the vehicle is facing charges for assaulting a federal officer.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Others say the appeal comes from meeting people outside their usual circles.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
-
Per data from the 2024-25 school year, only slightly more than 30% of high school juniors across the state were meeting or exceeding the standard for math.—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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How about Matt Capps, a closer on a one-year deal, for a young catching prospect with the Minnesota Twins named Wilson Ramos.—
Barry Svrluga,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
The dessert quickly became popular locally before eventually catching the attention of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc as the company searched for a signature dessert offering.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
In Mexico, South Koreans are partying with the locals and mariachi bands are greeting teams at their hotels.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
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There have been no such pictures of the heir to the throne greeting Beatrice’s sister, Princess Eugenie, the same way.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encountering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encountering. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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