as in approaching
to approach and speak to (someone) often in an angry, aggressive, or unwanted way
He was accosted by peddlers selling touristy trinkets on the street. She was so famous that people would accost her on the street and ask for an autograph.
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Recent Examples of accosting
The Michigan State Police said Robert Wilson, 44, of Gaylord, was arrested on March 25 and lodged at the Otsego County Jail on one charge each of accosting a minor for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime.
—
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Fallon quipped that White must not be able to leave the house for fear of actors accosting him asking to be on the show.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2026
Maybe the white-haired woman in the Phillies hoodie has done something more egregious than being outhustled for a home run ball in the stands at LoanDepot Park in Miami, and then accosting the dad who retrieved it and gave it to his son for the kid's birthday.
—Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The trailer features minimal dialogue, and Farrell, 49, is seen running through the streets and accosting casino employees at one point.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Fallon quipped that White must not be able to leave the house for fear of actors accosting him asking to be on the show.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2026
Maybe the white-haired woman in the Phillies hoodie has done something more egregious than being outhustled for a home run ball in the stands at LoanDepot Park in Miami, and then accosting the dad who retrieved it and gave it to his son for the kid's birthday.
—Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The trailer features minimal dialogue, and Farrell, 49, is seen running through the streets and accosting casino employees at one point.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accosting
Verb
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This may be attributed to school districts approaching reading education in a different way.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
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If a bear appears intent on approaching you, your group, or your campsite in a non-defensive manner (not showing signs of agitation), gather your group together, make noise, and try to discourage the bear from further approaching.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Verb
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In Takedown, Hansen returns to the familiar interview format of To Catch a Predator, confronting and interviewing would-be predators for his own streaming network, TruBlu.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
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Magazine publisher Condé Nast settled a labor dispute with three employees who were fired last year after confronting the company’s human resources chief, paying $400,000 to the group and reinstating their jobs, according to a statement from the NewsGuild of New York.—
Liam Scott,
Washington Post,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accosting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accosting. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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