encountering

verb

present participle of encounter
1
as in confronting
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face quite unexpectedly encountered our next-door neighbor while vacationing in Europe

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in finding
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 facing
to enter into contest or conflict with the troops encountered bands of guerrilla fighters as they made their way across the desert

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 encountering Thus far, this is not a problem the city reports encountering. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 According to the company, Skyring walked 75 miles over seven days through the Namib Desert to the Skeleton Coast in July 2000, encountering several oryx gazelles along the way. — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026 Patients encountering a dubious medical claim on TikTok, YouTube, or a podcast rarely have an equivalent source of evidence available in the same moment. — Avi Tuschman, STAT, 13 Aug. 2026 Former Sears Foundation President Paula Jones, whose more than 24-year career at Sears included serving as its head of marketing communications, recalled starting work at Sears at age 21 and encountering very few fellow Black women. — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 These 1 billion users may also be encountering Gemini in all those places, but that’s not the MAU metric. — ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2026 Divers and snorkelers can weave through forests of giant kelp towers, encountering famously playful sea lions, neon fish, and historic shipwrecks. — Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2026 Nearly 90 industry partners are participating in Northern Strike, according to Wagh, allowing troops to work with developing capabilities before potentially encountering them in conflict. — Olivianna Calmes, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Still, these owners have dealt with all the pricing and supply chain uncertainties of the pandemic, and are now encountering issues with inflation, tariffs and more. — Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encountering
  1. confronting
  2. finding
  3. facing
  4. meeting
  5. catching
  6. greeting
Verb
  • As the victim remains on life support, his family is confronting a decision no mother wants to make.
    — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • For all the headwinds confronting Jolly, Republicans may encounter their own turbulence.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of confronting
Verb
  • His best option was finding a living donor for a kidney transplant.
    — Joe Donlon, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Shelton of 2025 who scrapped out wins by scrambling along the baseline and finding a way has evolved into a more assertive player.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of finding
Verb
  • With 168 rooms and suites—some boasting water-facing balconies—the resort displays Texas-forward artwork and contemporary, clean finishes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Now, the man is facing federal felony charges, Reed Williams reports.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of facing
Verb
  • Even worse, Juliet has a three-page invitation poem about leaving all of their baggage and drama behind and meeting them in the castle.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Just what Trump might want to achieve by meeting again with Kim is opaque.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of meeting
Verb
  • Benzina's spot kick was awarded after a VAR check penalized Algeria’s Lana Smits for catching Sakina Ouzraoui in the face with a flailing arm.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Known for his defensive skills and clubhouse presence rather than his bat, Tromp will provide a steady hand behind the plate, replacing Chuckie Robinson and providing depth alongside rookie Eliezer Alfonzo for the big league catching duo.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of catching
Verb
  • Speaking to The New York Post’s Page Six afterward, the singer — who is expecting her first child with husband Carmen Educate — recalled greeting the couple at their head table following her performance.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
  • After photos from the encounter were released—showing the sleepy young prince in his bathrobe and slippers, casually greeting the world leader—the moment took the Internet by storm.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of greeting

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Cite this Entry

“Encountering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encountering. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of encountering for Spanish Speakers

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