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
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Harding presented a slide showing this year’s bird encounters substantially below the long-term average at some of those circuits.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
When his many debts and checkered past start to catch up with him, Doyle encounters a kindred spirit who may hold the key to his deliverance.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
In 1965 Viking published, to little notice or acclaim or sales, the novel Stoner by John Williams, a downbeat story of a quiet English professor in Missouri who encounters a succession of disappointments in his life and career.
—Paul Slovak
september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Spooky Mirror has already forced one man to die by suicide when a very pregnant Lorraine encounters it.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
In an effort to help the group retrieve it, Guy encounters William Fitchner’s Jasper, a mysterious American who has quietly assumed control and influence over the Talamasca’s London Motherhouse.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Susie Prince, owner and designer of Susie Mae Design in Atlanta, Georgia, encounters the same issue with magazines.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
Related Stories Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday encounters Rosaline one night after following the advice of her Grandmama Hester Frump (Joanna Lumley).
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Devan Patel, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
In most of the romance fraud cases the NCL encounters, the crimes are being perpetrated from overseas.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Marcela Rodríguez, co-chair of the Illinois Latino Agenda, highlighted the importance of being prepared for ICE encounters during a press conference on Friday.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025
Monteverde’s cloud forest is a haven for nature lovers, with canopy walks and wildlife encounters that will delight young and old alike.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
White dramatizes Gurudev’s encounters with FARC leaders during peace negotiations in Havana and Bogotá, while also following three young Colombians, Alberto, Carlos, and Francisco, whose lives are torn apart by violence.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
Misalignments of the Metroidvania formula Once perfected, the combat encounters and extra hard challenges become the game’s bread and butter.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
When to visit Baja A Baja cruise is ideal from late fall through early spring when temperatures are mild and wildlife encounters peak.
—Uncruise Adventures, AFAR Media, 3 Sep. 2025
The event will feature fun and creative stations with spiderweb paintings, bubble potions and live encounters with some of the museum’s resident critters.
—Virginia Brown, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
The kid version of Mabel encounters the middle-aged versions of Oliver and Charles.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Harding presented a slide showing this year’s bird encounters substantially below the long-term average at some of those circuits.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
When his many debts and checkered past start to catch up with him, Doyle encounters a kindred spirit who may hold the key to his deliverance.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
In 1965 Viking published, to little notice or acclaim or sales, the novel Stoner by John Williams, a downbeat story of a quiet English professor in Missouri who encounters a succession of disappointments in his life and career.
—Paul Slovak
september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Spooky Mirror has already forced one man to die by suicide when a very pregnant Lorraine encounters it.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
In an effort to help the group retrieve it, Guy encounters William Fitchner’s Jasper, a mysterious American who has quietly assumed control and influence over the Talamasca’s London Motherhouse.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Susie Prince, owner and designer of Susie Mae Design in Atlanta, Georgia, encounters the same issue with magazines.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
Related Stories Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday encounters Rosaline one night after following the advice of her Grandmama Hester Frump (Joanna Lumley).
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued an executive order and cities like Los Angeles are drafting their own ordinances to protect constituents after reports of disturbing encounters with masked agents or those who refuse to identify themselves.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
In most of the romance fraud cases the NCL encounters, the crimes are being perpetrated from overseas.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Marcela Rodríguez, co-chair of the Illinois Latino Agenda, highlighted the importance of being prepared for ICE encounters during a press conference on Friday.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025
Monteverde’s cloud forest is a haven for nature lovers, with canopy walks and wildlife encounters that will delight young and old alike.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
White dramatizes Gurudev’s encounters with FARC leaders during peace negotiations in Havana and Bogotá, while also following three young Colombians, Alberto, Carlos, and Francisco, whose lives are torn apart by violence.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
Misalignments of the Metroidvania formula Once perfected, the combat encounters and extra hard challenges become the game’s bread and butter.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
When to visit Baja A Baja cruise is ideal from late fall through early spring when temperatures are mild and wildlife encounters peak.
—Uncruise Adventures, AFAR Media, 3 Sep. 2025
The event will feature fun and creative stations with spiderweb paintings, bubble potions and live encounters with some of the museum’s resident critters.
—Virginia Brown, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounters
Verb
-
Although the crushed velvet exteriors are the most eye-catching details of the shoes, there’s more to them than what meets the eye.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Pokémon meets Animal Crossing Although a new mainline entry in the Pokémon series is due out this year, Nintendo isn’t letting that stop them from pushing out more games next year timed to the series’ 30th anniversary in Japan.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Keep scrolling for kitchen finds as low as $5.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Perhaps overcome by the beauty of a very blue natural pool nestled in the woods, Cherry finds it in herself to be honest with Daniel.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Trump is a man of many hats Immigration has become the dominant political issue in Britain, eclipsing concerns over a faltering economy, as the country faces a record number of asylum claims.—
Vitalii Yalahuzian,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
As Israel mobilizes an additional 60,000 reservists for its Gaza City offensive, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a showdown over mandatory military service for the Ultra-Orthodox community, a debate sharpened by the strain on reservists pulled from their families for months at a time.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Ideological skirmishes over the motives and obligations of Carpenter’s music include both sincere interrogation of its feminism and smirking counteractive reprisals to that scrutiny.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Your heart’s in the right place, but your approach needs work as the moon confronts Mars.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Laura confronts Cherry about Nicholas and swears to tell Daniel everything.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Whereas large investors once uniformly supported settlements to avoid costly fights, some now argue that quick capitulations undermine shareholder democracy and give too much power to activists.—
Kai Liekefett,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The 6-foot-6 defenseman decisively won his fights.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Alphonse Pierre’s Off the Dome column covers songs, mixtapes, albums, scenes, snippets, movies, Meek Mill tweets, fashion trends—and anything else that catches his attention.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The center beam shows color and detail clearly, while the outer glow only catches movement.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Unlike loofahs or scrubbing nets, which are made of non-recyclable plastic, wooden shower brushes are compostable.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Sep. 2025
-
But this tubing mascara took my lashes to the lengths that my fluffier brushes do.—
Elizabeth Denton,
StyleCaster,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encounters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounters. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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