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
The shocking clip shows 27-year-old Emily Marzilli and friends encountering a hungry Bryde's whale while swimming near a school of sardines.
—
Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Each episode finds Xena (Lawless) and her companion Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) encountering characters from both history and mythology.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
And while volunteers are serious about citizen science, encountering such a wonderful bird leads you to smile deeply in your soul.
—Joe Murphy, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
In the audio-less and somewhat grainy footage, presented by Merchant at a bond hearing, Patel is seen entering the store and eventually encountering Miller, who was riding the cart.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
The shock of encountering sounds this extraordinary tends to bypass familiar categories and break into the realm of the inexplicable.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 21 Dec. 2025
Its extended durability reflects lessons learned from Curiosity, its predecessor, whose wheels accumulated an increasing number of dings and punctures after encountering terrain sharper and more rugged than anticipated.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Guests with mobility issues may request rooms on the main hallways to avoid encountering stairs.
—Jennifer Bradley Franklin, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025
What should people do when encountering moose?
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Each episode finds Xena (Lawless) and her companion Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) encountering characters from both history and mythology.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
And while volunteers are serious about citizen science, encountering such a wonderful bird leads you to smile deeply in your soul.
—Joe Murphy, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
In the audio-less and somewhat grainy footage, presented by Merchant at a bond hearing, Patel is seen entering the store and eventually encountering Miller, who was riding the cart.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
The shock of encountering sounds this extraordinary tends to bypass familiar categories and break into the realm of the inexplicable.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 21 Dec. 2025
Its extended durability reflects lessons learned from Curiosity, its predecessor, whose wheels accumulated an increasing number of dings and punctures after encountering terrain sharper and more rugged than anticipated.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Guests with mobility issues may request rooms on the main hallways to avoid encountering stairs.
—Jennifer Bradley Franklin, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025
What should people do when encountering moose?
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encountering
Verb
-
Experts say that without a viable alternative to the current ruling system, protests are unlikely to instigate regime change, yet the widespread unrest underscores the profound crises confronting Iran’s government.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Video of the shooting, which shows federal agents confronting Good inside a vehicle, has brought widespread attention to Good’s death and prompted protests in Minneapolis.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The series chronicles three New Yorkers who come together over their love of true crime podcasts and end up finding themselves at the center of more than a few true crimes.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
At least in the interim, Duke deserves credit for finding ways to win despite some of its defensive deficiencies.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even after clawing back, the Bears were facing a 27-16 deficit with less than seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Dark paint colors can feel surprisingly cozy and create a cocoon-like atmosphere in north-facing rooms.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After meeting while training as actors, Graham and his wife, English actress Hannah Walters, married in 2008.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Byrne and Cannavale began dating in 2012 after meeting through mutual friends.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Before catching the ball, Siakam set a screen for Andrew Nembhard in a pick-and-roll.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Furthermore, the zeitgeist-catching hockey drama Heated Rivalry will launch exclusively in each market.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The couple was seen chatting, smiling and greeting their tablemates at the awards show.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Vrabel got the cut cleaned up on the sideline and went about his business, standing outside the locker room and greeting every player, coach and team staffer to walk through the door.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encountering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encountering. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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