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
Kate Wong, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2025
The kid version of Mabel encounters the middle-aged versions of Oliver and Charles.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Harding presented a slide showing this year’s bird encounters substantially below the long-term average at some of those circuits.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
When his many debts and checkered past start to catch up with him, Doyle encounters a kindred spirit who may hold the key to his deliverance.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
In 1965 Viking published, to little notice or acclaim or sales, the novel Stoner by John Williams, a downbeat story of a quiet English professor in Missouri who encounters a succession of disappointments in his life and career.
—Paul Slovak
september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Spooky Mirror has already forced one man to die by suicide when a very pregnant Lorraine encounters it.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
In an effort to help the group retrieve it, Guy encounters William Fitchner’s Jasper, a mysterious American who has quietly assumed control and influence over the Talamasca’s London Motherhouse.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Susie Prince, owner and designer of Susie Mae Design in Atlanta, Georgia, encounters the same issue with magazines.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
Amanda Castro
hannah Parry
shane Croucher
jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
In the complaint, obtained by the Idaho Statesman, IFPC states that during the 2024-25 school year, the family’s student had two encounters with a transgender student in the women’s restroom.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 17 Sep. 2025
Scientist say the incidents are not aggressive and should not be referred to as attacks but as encounters with playful, rambunctious animals.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
In addition to showcasing the Arctic’s raw, austere beauty and wildlife encounters such as sightings of polar bears, walruses, wolves, giant musk ox, narwhal, and snowy owls, the voyage shines a spotlight on the Indigenous people who have stewarded the region’s unusual ecosystems for 5,000 years.
—Robin Catalano, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025
Lyles had more pressing encounters coming.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Since then, the legal safeguards against such encounters have weakened.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Prime Scuba Ishigaki This PADI center is famed not just for manta ray encounters but also for its hearty onboard meals.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued an executive order and cities like Los Angeles are drafting their own ordinances to protect constituents after reports of disturbing encounters with masked agents or those who refuse to identify themselves.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Moreover, large mammals are out and about, making potentially dangerous wildlife encounters a concern.
—Kate Wong, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2025
The kid version of Mabel encounters the middle-aged versions of Oliver and Charles.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Harding presented a slide showing this year’s bird encounters substantially below the long-term average at some of those circuits.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
When his many debts and checkered past start to catch up with him, Doyle encounters a kindred spirit who may hold the key to his deliverance.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2025
In 1965 Viking published, to little notice or acclaim or sales, the novel Stoner by John Williams, a downbeat story of a quiet English professor in Missouri who encounters a succession of disappointments in his life and career.
—Paul Slovak
september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Spooky Mirror has already forced one man to die by suicide when a very pregnant Lorraine encounters it.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
In an effort to help the group retrieve it, Guy encounters William Fitchner’s Jasper, a mysterious American who has quietly assumed control and influence over the Talamasca’s London Motherhouse.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Susie Prince, owner and designer of Susie Mae Design in Atlanta, Georgia, encounters the same issue with magazines.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
The royal family are responsible for the seating arrangements at the state dinner and appear to have tactfully seated the media mogul far away from the president to avoid any awkward encounters.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry
shane Croucher
jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
In the complaint, obtained by the Idaho Statesman, IFPC states that during the 2024-25 school year, the family’s student had two encounters with a transgender student in the women’s restroom.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 17 Sep. 2025
Scientist say the incidents are not aggressive and should not be referred to as attacks but as encounters with playful, rambunctious animals.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
In addition to showcasing the Arctic’s raw, austere beauty and wildlife encounters such as sightings of polar bears, walruses, wolves, giant musk ox, narwhal, and snowy owls, the voyage shines a spotlight on the Indigenous people who have stewarded the region’s unusual ecosystems for 5,000 years.
—Robin Catalano, AFAR Media, 15 Sep. 2025
Lyles had more pressing encounters coming.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Since then, the legal safeguards against such encounters have weakened.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Prime Scuba Ishigaki This PADI center is famed not just for manta ray encounters but also for its hearty onboard meals.
—Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued an executive order and cities like Los Angeles are drafting their own ordinances to protect constituents after reports of disturbing encounters with masked agents or those who refuse to identify themselves.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounters
Verb
-
Civic pride meets global ambition The 2025 edition gathered nearly 13,000 attendees, including 700 professionals and 310 journalists, with screenings almost sold out and industry sessions at 90% capacity.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
19 Sep. 2025
-
School officials caution us that there’s more here than meets the eye; more on that in a minute as well.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Guadalajara currently finds itself in 11th place in Liga MX standings and has just one win in its last three matches at home.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
In my interview with, Nancy Levine Stearns, founder of Impactivize, a nonprofit journalism project, finds that the majority of corporations remain steadfastly committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Trump is a man of many hats Immigration has become the dominant political issue in Britain, eclipsing concerns over a faltering economy, as the country faces a record number of asylum claims.—
Vitalii Yalahuzian,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
As Israel mobilizes an additional 60,000 reservists for its Gaza City offensive, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a showdown over mandatory military service for the Ultra-Orthodox community, a debate sharpened by the strain on reservists pulled from their families for months at a time.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Delhi sees Beijing as its biggest threat, particularly since some border skirmishes that began in 2020.—
Thomas Wright,
The Atlantic,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Subsequently, Belly confronts Jeremiah, who explains that the hook-up happened while he and Belly were briefly broken up.—
Alexandra Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Private life may be on the back burner when Mercury confronts Saturn.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Whereas large investors once uniformly supported settlements to avoid costly fights, some now argue that quick capitulations undermine shareholder democracy and give too much power to activists.—
Kai Liekefett,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The 6-foot-6 defenseman decisively won his fights.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If your application catches FIFA’s eye, the next step is an invitation to Volunteer Team Tryouts, which run from October through January 2026.—
Meredith Heil Bock,
AFAR Media,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Alphonse Pierre’s Off the Dome column covers songs, mixtapes, albums, scenes, snippets, movies, Meek Mill tweets, fashion trends—and anything else that catches his attention.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Meanwhile, the shimmering stars effect was formed using fine, pointed brushes.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
There are specific brushes suited for specific dogs, as each breed has different fur types.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encounters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounters. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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