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
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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
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Recent Examples of encounter
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 May 2026
Its courses are developed by more than 100 linguists and language educators, with lessons built around practical dialogue, cultural context, and situations people actually encounter.
—Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 30 May 2026
Eric Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2026
That chance encounter in Madrid has sparked his first film in seven years, Next Life, if not autobiographically, then at least in spirit.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Verb
The best safety measure when encountering bees near nests is to leave the area and create distance to avoid being stung by female carpenter bees.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 May 2026
Its courses are developed by more than 100 linguists and language educators, with lessons built around practical dialogue, cultural context, and situations people actually encounter.
—Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 30 May 2026
Noun
During the encounter, the lawsuit alleges, an employee handed Kasenov an alligator, which then bit him in the face.
—Eric Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2026
That chance encounter in Madrid has sparked his first film in seven years, Next Life, if not autobiographically, then at least in spirit.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for encounter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter
Verb
-
And in case there were any remaining doubts that masks never had the slightest chance of stopping respiratory viruses, of the studies that met their inclusion criteria, all of them came after 2019.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
In this screen-free environment, the two narrators meet and form a friendship that strengthens them both.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
By greatly expanding the dimensions of his images, with their muted palettes, tight cropping, found symmetries, and laconic wit, had the maestro of the photographic epigram betrayed his subtractive aesthetic?—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Everyone will find the easy-access power outlets and bedside controls a plus.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
With California facing increasingly destructive wildfires, experts and officials have long urged the strategic removal of dense, flammable vegetation that can erupt into particularly destructive flames from a lightning bolt or the spark of a power line.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
But rescuers caution that the remaining four men face an equally dangerous journey to safety.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Inconspicuous blows against Denver escalated to skirmishes.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, the religious right profited handsomely from the skirmish.—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
That courier was carrying a case containing approximately $67,000 when the two men confronted him in the parking lot, then took the cash and fled in a nearby vehicle.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
-
The same difficulty confronts human therapists and psychiatrists.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps there's a fussy Phillies fan in footy pajamas who balks at the twice-daily ritual but might be more inclined to brush because Harper does it, as well.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
This isn’t the band’s first brush with viral fame.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Wait, so then why did Benji and the cameras catch him pouring whiskey into his solo cup?—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 June 2026
-
Owner Conner Mitchell, former manager Taylor Grant, boat owner Gilmer Grant and boat captain Cody Martin were all involved in catching local fish such as yellowtail, rockfish and Pacific tuna.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Attorneys say Gray intervened in fight Attorneys claim Gray was attempting to break up a fight when Tarver pulled out a gun and shot him.—
Erin Jones,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
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For Ritter, the elevated bar is almost beside the point, because the SpaceX grants differ fundamentally from the Tesla fight.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encounter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounter. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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