1
as in met
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 found
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 faced
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 encountered
The city’s own data shows that last year, only about 3% of people encountered during encampment sweeps accepted a shelter bed for even a single night, and not one was connected to permanent housing.
—
Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
The first units on scene encountered heavy fire conditions and flames coming through the roof, fire officials said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
The first display encountered was that of the steering wheel, binnacle, control panel, and central console.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2026
Police said information from a tipster who encountered the suspect near Brown University was key to making the identification.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
In 2024, Chen Goldberg encountered a problem familiar to many senior operators.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
The majority of people the students encountered were supportive.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
There are many different types, but house centipedes (Scutigera coleoptrata) are the most commonly encountered indoors.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
But even at a progressive institution like Antioch, Coretta encountered the quiet betrayal of liberal hypocrisy.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026
The first units on scene encountered heavy fire conditions and flames coming through the roof, fire officials said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
The first display encountered was that of the steering wheel, binnacle, control panel, and central console.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 2026
Police said information from a tipster who encountered the suspect near Brown University was key to making the identification.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
In 2024, Chen Goldberg encountered a problem familiar to many senior operators.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
The majority of people the students encountered were supportive.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
There are many different types, but house centipedes (Scutigera coleoptrata) are the most commonly encountered indoors.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
But even at a progressive institution like Antioch, Coretta encountered the quiet betrayal of liberal hypocrisy.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encountered
Verb
-
The transitional committee, made up of Palestinian administrators, has met in Egypt but has not yet entered Gaza.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The scope of its ambition is met, at every turn, by deft control over what is witnessed, and how.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile the National Citizen Party (NCP), a political party founded by students following the uprising, has struggled to meaningfully muscle its way into Bangladesh’s fractious and often violent political scene.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Who founded Black History Month?—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The secretary has faced pressure from Democrats and Republicans after Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot dead during an immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota.—
Ryan Mancini,
The Hill,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Had they been convicted, the two immigrants would have faced years in federal prison.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 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
-
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
Verb
-
In his first playoff game, a thriller against the Los Angeles Rams, McMillan caught five passes for 81 yards, using his connection with quarterback Bryce Young to get the ball downfield.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
One month after the US carried out an attack in Venezuela to capture its president, civilians in the South American country remain caught between uncertainty and expectations of governmental change.—
CNN 9 hr ago,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Prepare to be greeted by freezing temperatures and piles of grimy snow and slush crowding the sidewalks.—
Hilary Milnes,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
-
They were greeted with a red carpet, an honor guard and a delegation of officials.—
Michelle L. Price,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encountered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encountered. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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