as in approached
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 accosted
Impacciatore, squeezed into a skin-tight Power Rangers suit, performed an entire clowning routine where she’s accosted by abstract embodiments of various winter sports throughout history.
—
Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026
The agent accosted and then fired on Routh, who fled in his car and was arrested a short time later.
—Greg Allen, NPR, 4 Feb. 2026
Several weeks later, when one of Crow’s staffers went to the facility, following a different but related set of protocols, two conservative members of the Aurora City Council accosted him.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
The majority being accosted and disappeared are Black, Muslim, Latinx, and Asian.
—Bao Phi, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Investigators determined that four teenage boys were waiting for a bus at the Transit Mall when they were accosted by two young adult men wearing ski masks and dark clothing.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Last season, after Georgetown lost to the Xavier Musketeers, Cooley engaged in a heated argument with an Xavier fan who allegedly accosted one of his players after the final buzzer.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
Senators are accosted daily by a robust Capitol Hill press corps (which once included me and occasionally still does).
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 2 Dec. 2025
The quick-thinking Secretary of War immediately starts live-streaming the event before being accosted by Director of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who ends up shooting a dog in a scenario seemingly plucked from Noem’s memoir, which caused a stir during the 2024 election.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2025
Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026
The agent accosted and then fired on Routh, who fled in his car and was arrested a short time later.
—Greg Allen, NPR, 4 Feb. 2026
Several weeks later, when one of Crow’s staffers went to the facility, following a different but related set of protocols, two conservative members of the Aurora City Council accosted him.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
The majority being accosted and disappeared are Black, Muslim, Latinx, and Asian.
—Bao Phi, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Investigators determined that four teenage boys were waiting for a bus at the Transit Mall when they were accosted by two young adult men wearing ski masks and dark clothing.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
Last season, after Georgetown lost to the Xavier Musketeers, Cooley engaged in a heated argument with an Xavier fan who allegedly accosted one of his players after the final buzzer.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
Senators are accosted daily by a robust Capitol Hill press corps (which once included me and occasionally still does).
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 2 Dec. 2025
The quick-thinking Secretary of War immediately starts live-streaming the event before being accosted by Director of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who ends up shooting a dog in a scenario seemingly plucked from Noem’s memoir, which caused a stir during the 2024 election.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accosted
Verb
-
Whether on the stage or the red carpet, the star has always approached dressing with an original and personal flair.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2026
-
As half-time approached during Sunderland’s visit, there was a growing desperation for an opener from the Emirates crowd.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Keith Gasco was part of a SWAT team that confronted a gunman in a Family Dollar store in Spencer on February 3.—
Mike Toole,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Meanwhile, his friend Martin has his own point of view and Loran himself is confronted by his lifelong search for solitude.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accosted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accosted. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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