1
as in meets
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 finds
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 faces
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 encounters
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
This real-life event, along with her desire for more Black representation in the genre, shaped the book's protagonist, Harmony Roundtree, a young Black girl who encounters a ghost in Savannah and gets pulled into a mystery.
—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Police have advised that anyone who encounters Dobbins to contact their local law enforcement agency.
—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
During routine work, R-Noid can perform tasks independently, while remote operators can intervene when the robot encounters unfamiliar situations or edge cases.
—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
23 June 2026
An activity that may seem leisurely, such as swimming in a river, could end up more dangerous if someone encounters an unexpected rip current.
—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
If the vehicle encounters environmental conditions that affect that single type of sensor, all sensors could be impaired at the same time, leaving the AV without adequate perception.
—
David Risher,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
If your dog encounters a snake, staying calm and acting quickly can protect both your pet and the snake.
—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
21 June 2026
Tucker, the Special Agent in Charge for Texas and Oklahoma, said visitors should leave with memories of Southern hospitality and brisket – not encounters with illicit drugs laced with a deadly dose of fentanyl.
—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
Serious encounters with alligators remain relatively rare, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data, but there have been three attacks in the last seven days.
—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
In May, Lutnick was also called before a House panel to offer closed-door testimony on his own encounters with Epstein years ago.
—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
When interfaith encounters do occur, the focus can quickly shift to theological differences rather than getting to know one another as neighbors and fellow citizens.
—
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2026
After some fateful encounters with people in the Everglades, namely folk artist Tom Gaskins and fifth-generation Floridian Oscar Thompson, Butcher went from being a swamp skeptic to one of the land’s biggest advocates.
—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 2026
Keeping yellow jackets at bay prevents painful encounters while supporting their essential role as pollinators.
—
Mallory Carra,
The Spruce,
27 June 2026
Skiles said South Florida is seeing a higher frequency of drone encounters, seizures, and citations compared to other regions.
—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
26 June 2026
Despite their abundance in some regions, blacktip sharks are generally not considered dangerous to humans, though their preference for shallow waters means encounters can occur, especially in surf zones where people are also present.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Verb
In the upcoming film, Couture, the 51-year-old actress plays Maxine Walker, a filmmaker who encounters a romantic partner in Paris around the time of her breast cancer diagnosis.
—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
This real-life event, along with her desire for more Black representation in the genre, shaped the book's protagonist, Harmony Roundtree, a young Black girl who encounters a ghost in Savannah and gets pulled into a mystery.
—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Police have advised that anyone who encounters Dobbins to contact their local law enforcement agency.
—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
During routine work, R-Noid can perform tasks independently, while remote operators can intervene when the robot encounters unfamiliar situations or edge cases.
—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
23 June 2026
An activity that may seem leisurely, such as swimming in a river, could end up more dangerous if someone encounters an unexpected rip current.
—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
If the vehicle encounters environmental conditions that affect that single type of sensor, all sensors could be impaired at the same time, leaving the AV without adequate perception.
—
David Risher,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
If your dog encounters a snake, staying calm and acting quickly can protect both your pet and the snake.
—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
21 June 2026
Tucker, the Special Agent in Charge for Texas and Oklahoma, said visitors should leave with memories of Southern hospitality and brisket – not encounters with illicit drugs laced with a deadly dose of fentanyl.
—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
Noun
The site hearkens back to Florida roadside attractions of the past but offers plenty of present-day opportunities for animal encounters amid a backdrop of tropical foliage.
—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
Serious encounters with alligators remain relatively rare, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data, but there have been three attacks in the last seven days.
—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
In May, Lutnick was also called before a House panel to offer closed-door testimony on his own encounters with Epstein years ago.
—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
When interfaith encounters do occur, the focus can quickly shift to theological differences rather than getting to know one another as neighbors and fellow citizens.
—
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2026
After some fateful encounters with people in the Everglades, namely folk artist Tom Gaskins and fifth-generation Floridian Oscar Thompson, Butcher went from being a swamp skeptic to one of the land’s biggest advocates.
—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 2026
Keeping yellow jackets at bay prevents painful encounters while supporting their essential role as pollinators.
—
Mallory Carra,
The Spruce,
27 June 2026
Skiles said South Florida is seeing a higher frequency of drone encounters, seizures, and citations compared to other regions.
—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
26 June 2026
Despite their abundance in some regions, blacktip sharks are generally not considered dangerous to humans, though their preference for shallow waters means encounters can occur, especially in surf zones where people are also present.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounters
Verb
-
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
-
Patients will first need prior authorization -- prescribing clinicians will submit documentation proving the patient meets strict body mass index (BMI) and health condition requirements.
Verb
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In addition, a 2024 CDCR report finds that people who spent a year or longer in a fire camp have lower recidivism rates compared to fire camp-eligible individuals who did not participate in fire camps.
-
Across Alto Adige, Trentino and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, sauvignon blanc finds a delicious middle ground.
Verb
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On Monday, McFarlane and two friends were outside the fencing, leaning against the metal barriers in front of the Department of Agriculture, which faces the National Mall.
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Look at the racial hostility that Caitlin Clark faces from Black players and media members on a nightly basis.
Noun
-
Johnson brushes off the skirmishes, broadly speaking, as part of the governing process.
-
While the war ended years before, the hostility spread from the stands — with skirmishes among supporters — into the field, when Maradona tricked the referee and the world with the World Cup’s most infamous goal, punching the ball into the net with his fist above England’s goalie Peter Shilton.
Verb
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While celebrating this enduring model, the nation confronts serious challenges and concerning efforts to suppress civic groups.
-
When ambitious young athlete Jamal (Stenline) enters her life and confronts the dangerous world around her, everything fractures.
Noun
-
Skoog said he was honored to receive Sayers’ endorsement, saying mayors are focused on delivering results rather than engaging in political fights.
-
For five months, sentiment ran consistently negative, dragged down by trade disputes, NATO burden-sharing fights and the general friction between Washington and European capitals.
Verb
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Kessler catches an empty side screen involving Anfernee Simons and calmly plays in drop, backpedals smoothly, slides laterally for a stride, opens his hips and tricks Simons to shoot before swatting it away with his left hand.
-
Any successful catches need to be killed humanely following strict state guidelines, as well as accurately documented.
Noun
-
Hawaiian Tropic’s zinc oxide formula, a physical UV blocker, brushes on with a matte, translucent finish and leaves no white cast on most skin tones.
-
From clever watermelon slicers to brushes designed to slide into tight crevices, shop more surprisingly useful gadgets below.
Cite this Entry
“Encounters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounters. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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