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

For all the headwinds confronting Jolly, Republicans may encounter their own turbulence. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 Travelers may encounter issues like unclean accommodations and higher flight cancellation rates. — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

Noun

Give women more control and power over the initial encounter? — Greta Cross, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026 During the first two encounters, police said the man stopped to ask her questions. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for encounter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter

Verb

Airlines around the world are currently plagued by delays in their efforts to deliver new premium offerings — including increasing passenger demand for privacy, high-tech connectivity and inflight entertainment — to meet the surge in air travel.

— Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Antioch Full Gospel Baptist Church members who are facing off in court over control of the College Station congregation will meet Monday to determine the process for picking who gets to preach.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of meet

Verb

Officers at the scene found a man who had been hit by a fleeing vehicle.

— Nicholas Lentz, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Sometimes poison ivy will creep into beds from nearby woodlands, but these plants can also find their way into flower beds via seeds dropped by birds.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of find

Verb

Centre-backs who regularly face pressure tend to produce the highest number of clearances, blocks and interceptions.

— Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Despite distancing herself from her Democratic predecessor, Klobuchar faced attacks from Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who ran in the Republican primary, arguing that her leadership would be tantamount to giving Walz another term.

— Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of face

Noun

Frantic skirmishes between the family and the beast take place as the house floods, and eventually the invading creature is tangled up in a trap.

— William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
On Thursday, linebacker Jack Cochrane also was involved in a skirmish with running back Jaydn Ott during a special teams drill.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of skirmish

Verb

The ladies all get on a yacht and are confronted with cardboard cutouts of them in their very first season.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
As states confront rising electricity demand and growing concerns about affordability, community solar offers one practical way to expand energy options while delivering benefits to households and local communities.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of confront

Noun

For smaller sections like the backsplash, carefully apply the sealer with an application brush, making sure to only get into the grout lines.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Citing dangerously dry brush conditions, the City Council approved the declaration this week to reduce the risk of fires associated with homeless individuals cooking outdoors or using fire to keep warm at night.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of brush

Verb

Also, after the first round, each mini-game has a separate metagame, where one or more players have a secret goal to meet without getting caught.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Many fans have been playing the game for years and aren't necessarily into a radical change on such a huge mechanic like catching passes.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of catch

Noun

With just four games of their regular season remaining, their challenge for the promotion play-offs seemed to be slipping away without much of a fight.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
No matter, seconds later Scott's corner threw multiple towels in the ring to stop the fight.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026