ENCOUNTER Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

encounter 1 of 2

verb

in-ˈkau̇n-tər

Definition of encounter

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in to face

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

encounter

2 of 2

noun

as in skirmish

a brief clash between enemies or rivals survived an encounter with the school bully at the local park

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of encounter

Verb

These powerhouse Los Angeles institutions join a growing cohort of universities in California and nationwide responding quickly to a technology most undergraduates first encountered in chat bots or social media feeds in middle and high school. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Deputies had encountered the suspect, Hector Nieves, about two hours before the stabbing and conducted a probation search, the Sheriff’s Office said. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Noun

Four people linked to a North Carolina daycare are facing charges after a 4-year-old was left bruised during an encounter with a teacher, according to investigators. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026 There, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said, an encounter ensued, and Glenn Pysher was shot and killed. — Tom Hanson, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for encounter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter

Verb

Lake Zurich and Antioch met twice last season, including in a second-round playoff game.

— Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
Big picture The league and the union are meeting regularly on various topics, but their disagreement on core economics — whether to move to a cap system — leaves little room for progress on the major issues.

— Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of meet

Verb

Much of that is because of Bowers, arguably the most talented tight end league-wide, but also because Mayer has found success in Kubiak’s heavy sets, and Thomas continues to provide value as a blocker.

— Sam Warren, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Red walls, heavy draperies with swags and fringe, and jacquard fabrics with gold accents could be found in many homes.

— Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of find

Verb

Routliffe and Glasspool will face wild-card pair Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams, while Errani and Vavassori will take on Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev.

— James Hansen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
GLP-1s aren’t covered Patients like La Marca are left in a tough spot, qualifying for Part D coverage of a GLP-1 but facing much higher cost sharing.

— Jackie Fortiér, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of face

Noun

Made with solid brush fibers, the applicator combs and controls the placement of the product so the finish is clump-free.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 28 Aug. 2026
The neighborhood/area Low-key and residential, dotted with independent businesses—including workshops still turning out traditional brushes, fans, and delicate woodwork.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of brush

Verb

Salas, 20, should soon become the youngest player to catch a big-league game since Ivan Rodriguez debuted with the Texas Rangers in 1991.

— Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Fortunately, one of the most sensitive detectors ever constructed was buried there to catch that fleeting glow and record the neutrinos’ ghostly presence.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of catch

Noun

Mayer had some early success with her jab, but Cameron increasingly took control as the fight progressed and landed the cleaner punches before hurting Mayer with a right hand in the eighth round.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Metchie was very much on the bubble of the 53-man roster, and he was outperformed by his peers, even if not by much in this rock-fight of a contest.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026