1
as in meets
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 finds
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 faces
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 encounters
Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Anyone who encounters a sick, injured or dead marine mammal is asked to call the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region stranding hotline at (866) 767-6114.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
When an atmospheric river encounters high terrain, it is forced upward, cooling rapidly and releasing its moisture as snow — sometimes in staggering quantities over short time periods.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Disciplined Saturn encounters illusory Neptune in your 6th House of Work and Health, pushing you to define tasks and protect your focus from distractions.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
But the score ends with the shock of humanity, as Humboldt encounters enslaved Cubans.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Past research shows that when a person encounters a questionable headline, several things typically happen.
—Walter Quattrociocchi, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2026
Even the random animals — birds, deer, dogs, cats and, at one point, a peacock — the director encounters on her journeys around Negev seem to be shattered by years of bombing.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Hayes plays him, and all the other people Elliott encounters along the way, with a showman’s delight.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
City News Service, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
In most encounters between bears and people, the bears are typically trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
—Sacbee.com, 25 Feb. 2026
In January 2026, Customs and Border Protection officials encountered immigrants at the southern border nearly 10,000 times compared with more than 61,000 encounters in January 2025.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Iñarritu delivers a series of macabre encounters, but falls short on surrounding them with a compelling story.
—Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026
There are swooping close encounters with heavenly bodies, Lego blocks in antigravity mode and swarms of Separators, a sort of astro-anthropomorphic version of the tool that pries apart Lego bricks in real life.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
After surviving five encounters with Ghostfaces past, Neve Campbell decided her Scream VI offer wasn’t worth another brush with death.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2026
Some encounters end in tragedy.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Without naming doctors or patients due to HIPAA guidelines and privacy concerns, CNN asked DHS to comment on the ICE encounters the doctor described.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
There will be five roster spots up for grabs, with one likely secured by whomever Dallas selects with its lottery pick, but there’s room for Bagley, especially as an emergency center option in case Dallas encounters more injury misfortune.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Anyone who encounters a sick, injured or dead marine mammal is asked to call the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region stranding hotline at (866) 767-6114.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
When an atmospheric river encounters high terrain, it is forced upward, cooling rapidly and releasing its moisture as snow — sometimes in staggering quantities over short time periods.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Disciplined Saturn encounters illusory Neptune in your 6th House of Work and Health, pushing you to define tasks and protect your focus from distractions.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
But the score ends with the shock of humanity, as Humboldt encounters enslaved Cubans.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Past research shows that when a person encounters a questionable headline, several things typically happen.
—Walter Quattrociocchi, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2026
Even the random animals — birds, deer, dogs, cats and, at one point, a peacock — the director encounters on her journeys around Negev seem to be shattered by years of bombing.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
Hayes plays him, and all the other people Elliott encounters along the way, with a showman’s delight.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
About 20 minutes later the officers, who recognized the defendant from prior encounters, returned to the area with an Orange County probation officer to look for Trinidad, prosecutors said.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
In most encounters between bears and people, the bears are typically trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
—Sacbee.com, 25 Feb. 2026
In January 2026, Customs and Border Protection officials encountered immigrants at the southern border nearly 10,000 times compared with more than 61,000 encounters in January 2025.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Iñarritu delivers a series of macabre encounters, but falls short on surrounding them with a compelling story.
—Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026
There are swooping close encounters with heavenly bodies, Lego blocks in antigravity mode and swarms of Separators, a sort of astro-anthropomorphic version of the tool that pries apart Lego bricks in real life.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
After surviving five encounters with Ghostfaces past, Neve Campbell decided her Scream VI offer wasn’t worth another brush with death.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2026
Some encounters end in tragedy.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Without naming doctors or patients due to HIPAA guidelines and privacy concerns, CNN asked DHS to comment on the ICE encounters the doctor described.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounters
Verb
-
Then, when a child returns to the clinic a year later, the coordinator meets with them again.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
If the florals aren’t convincing enough, the base is grounded with patchouli and pink pepper for a spicy meets woody element that balances any overarching fruity sweetness.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The United States finds itself in a precarious position, one that demands urgent attention from every citizen.—
Les Rubin,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Namken finds a gap in centerfield for a single, bringing up Cotton, who flies out to deep center.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Under the leadership of coach Javier Mascherano, Miami faces a new season with a mix of experience and youth.—
Jad El Reda
Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Fifty-year-old Daniel Taylor, a professor of marketing and supply chain management at the university’s Rawls College of Business, faces a charge of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, according to the statement.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Large SUVs carrying journalists from national outlets struggled to get around each other and at times got into skirmishes.—
Helen Rummel,
AZCentral.com,
22 Feb. 2026
-
As the hearings continued, Welch and Cohn engaged in heated legal skirmishes.—
Kristen Monroe,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As Black History Month closes, Baltimore confronts a version of that same demand.—
Jack Hill,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The move comes as Austin confronts mounting financial pressure.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Organizers are expecting some 1,500 Olympians, a bit over half those who competed in the Games, to parade into the monument built in the first century for gladiator fights and exotic animal hunts.—
Colleen Barry,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Workers in stores next to the 7-Eleven said arguments and fights were common at and around the convenience store — particularly among a few local homeless men who brawl over who gets to open the door for customers.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Or perhaps a member of a group or an organization will do or say something that catches you off guard?—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Tiny jewel rhinestone flowers add a touch of luxury and makes for an intricate detail that catches the light with every gesture.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
People picked up their brushes (or beauty blenders) and followed their favorite creator's routines step-by-step or used their work as inspiration to perfect the craft.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Clean dishwashing brushes, sponges, and cloths after each use.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encounters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounters. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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