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
Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
If one looks downwards and to the left one encounters a curved line of four stars, which is Andromeda's body.
—Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025
In any case, as the audience encounters figures who don’t quite conform to her earlier descriptions, the play gives Tullock a showcase of characters.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Lo makes her way to the compound where the gala is being held and encounters Sigrid (Amanda Collin), Richard and Anne's head of security.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
While Jeffrey is cleaning himself in the sink in the wee hours, the store’s manager (Dinklage) shows up and encounters the naked trespasser.
—Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Venturing into the wild, Rip encounters a strange group of men, done up in traditional Dutch dress and playing ninepins—bowling—in a mountain hollow.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Along the way, Marty encounters a wild range of New York characters.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
Laboon is one of the first figures the crew encounters upon arrival in the source material.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
The potential for dream matches against Roman Reigns or even Stone Cold Steve Austin exists, along with blockbuster encounters against Brock Lesnar or GUNTHER.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Of course, close animal encounters aren't always fictitious.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
But encounters with the island’s residents, including with his gruff but warm-hearted landlady (played by German screen legend Hanna Schygulla), gradually alter his outlook.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
With its iconic captains, philosophical dilemmas and unforgettable alien encounters, the Trek universe is rich with lore, logic, and a whole lot of technobabble.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Beyond supernatural encounters, the Beaux-Arts hotel is also a glittering grande dame of the French Quarter, with a revolving carousel bar, pristine marble floors, and a wooden grandfather clock that’s chimed in the lobby since 1909.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
This was the first of many encounters throughout my visit that reinforced their commitment to individual care.
—Essence, 14 Oct. 2025
Divers have told tales of muffled voices, phantom lights and shadows, and other eerie encounters during their time beneath the sea.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
In Colombia, an 18-year-old visits her estranged mother — a former guerrilla turned bride-to-be — hoping to find a revolutionary heroine but instead encounters silence, regret and love unspoken.
—Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
If one looks downwards and to the left one encounters a curved line of four stars, which is Andromeda's body.
—Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025
In any case, as the audience encounters figures who don’t quite conform to her earlier descriptions, the play gives Tullock a showcase of characters.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Lo makes her way to the compound where the gala is being held and encounters Sigrid (Amanda Collin), Richard and Anne's head of security.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
While Jeffrey is cleaning himself in the sink in the wee hours, the store’s manager (Dinklage) shows up and encounters the naked trespasser.
—Eric Andersson, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Venturing into the wild, Rip encounters a strange group of men, done up in traditional Dutch dress and playing ninepins—bowling—in a mountain hollow.
—John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Along the way, Marty encounters a wild range of New York characters.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
Laboon is one of the first figures the crew encounters upon arrival in the source material.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
The work—in a way, a series of encounters with random elements of one-click consumerism, including coloring books and marketing guides for dentists—is tedious, repetitive, and demoralizing.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
The potential for dream matches against Roman Reigns or even Stone Cold Steve Austin exists, along with blockbuster encounters against Brock Lesnar or GUNTHER.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Of course, close animal encounters aren't always fictitious.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
But encounters with the island’s residents, including with his gruff but warm-hearted landlady (played by German screen legend Hanna Schygulla), gradually alter his outlook.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
With its iconic captains, philosophical dilemmas and unforgettable alien encounters, the Trek universe is rich with lore, logic, and a whole lot of technobabble.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Beyond supernatural encounters, the Beaux-Arts hotel is also a glittering grande dame of the French Quarter, with a revolving carousel bar, pristine marble floors, and a wooden grandfather clock that’s chimed in the lobby since 1909.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
This was the first of many encounters throughout my visit that reinforced their commitment to individual care.
—Essence, 14 Oct. 2025
Divers have told tales of muffled voices, phantom lights and shadows, and other eerie encounters during their time beneath the sea.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounters
Verb
-
What promises to be a perfect week is complicated when Sabrina meets Ian Turner (Sherwood), a handsome British visitor, at the hotel bar.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Its January chapter, where Miguel is left by Marta and meets Olga, lasts 90 minutes.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That’s regardless of the circumstances the club finds itself in.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
For more nostalgic decor finds from Pottery Barn, Target, and more, keep scrolling.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At home, Takaichi faces her own challenges.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Now, with a lawsuit challenging Shalom's plans to expand, the facility faces renewed scrutiny and broader questions about how Wisconsin oversees private zoos.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Activists literally or figuratively flying the antifa flag have long been among the subset of people who go to protests to destroy property and get into violent skirmishes with far-right protestors (like the Proud Boys).—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Law enforcement officers have deployed tear gas and pepper balls in skirmishes with protesters.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Soegeng’s investigation, however, confronts him with the foundations of corruption – a truth too close for comfort.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Not long after, the man confronts Abby at a gas station and tells her to stay out of his life.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The woman said they are getting used to one another, but, luckily, there have been no fights.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Filmmaking is nitpicking, anxiety, fights, claustrophobia, exhaustion, euphoria.—
Susan Sontag,
Vogue,
26 Oct. 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,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The six catches ties for second-most in a game for Mims in his career.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Merlino had frequent brushes with the law throughout his early life, and in 1989 was convicted of an armored truck heist in which more than $350,000 was stolen, according to the Courier Post.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Automatic car wash brushes can collect dirt and small rocks that scratch your car.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encounters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounters. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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