1
as in to meet
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 to find
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of encounter
Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 15 Apr. 2025
The discovery of the drugs within shipments of bell peppers and cucumbers was made on April 11, when CBP officers assigned to the international bridge cargo facility encountered a tractor trailer entering the U.S. from Mexico.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
People with untreated mental-health issues are sixteen times more likely to be killed during a police encounter than others approached by law enforcement, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center, a nonprofit that works on behalf of people with severe mental illness.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Verb
Without giving away too many spoilers, the storyline involves multiple characters, scenes, and encounters on an island as well as in New York City.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 15 Apr. 2025
The discovery of the drugs within shipments of bell peppers and cucumbers was made on April 11, when CBP officers assigned to the international bridge cargo facility encountered a tractor trailer entering the U.S. from Mexico.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
Family Festival Days at animal center Spring Tails Family Festival Days feature hands-on animal encounters, crafts and games from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 27 at Helen Woodward Animal Center, 6461 El Apajo Road.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
People with untreated mental-health issues are sixteen times more likely to be killed during a police encounter than others approached by law enforcement, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center, a nonprofit that works on behalf of people with severe mental illness.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter
Verb
-
The Hall of Fame voting panel will meet May 20 in Charlotte and determine the Class of 2026.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Apr. 2025
-
In February 2024, Francis met with the trustees of the University of Notre Dame, a Catholic institution in Indiana.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Sporting found some moments of control in the second half and finally got a foothold in the game again.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Those few minutes sent students scrambling for cover and barricading themselves around campus until authorities found them.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Consumers face an overall average effective tariff rate of 28%, the highest since 1901, according to the Yale Budget Lab. Need a break?—
Bailey Schulz,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers will face Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in this NBA Playoff matchup on Monday at Ball Arena.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
However the trade saga develops from here, the first skirmishes in a trade war, a dreaded relic of the Great Depression, have begun in the 21st century.—
Jeff Sommer,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
After all, listening is a great tool for influencing people, navigating conflict, and soothing relationship skirmishes.—
Aditi Shrikant,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
What the narrator has to get away from is the assortment of low-grade humiliations and condescending attitudes she is confronted with every day while clocked in at the restaurant.—
Rhian Sasseen,
The Atlantic,
17 Apr. 2025
-
The brothers, having both military and criminal experience (not to mention their Chicago armamentarium), confront white racists with startling boldness, openly threatening Hogwood.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The supple bristles help stimulate the scalp and the brush leaves locks shiny and soft.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
With 8000Pa suction and an extra-long rubber brush, the X2 Omni has plenty of cleaning power.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that the mayor of Heath, Ohio — where work was paused — caught the city officials by surprise.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Something about it caught the attention of visiting scientists — and for good reason.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The 27-year-old’s striking was on point throughout the fight.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Amid a protracted fight over the future of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, the Missouri Senate on Monday passed legislation that could attract one of the teams to the Northland.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encounter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounter. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share