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

According to Pennington, Edward Jones has been using AI to better identify common financial scenarios their clients encounter, and gain new insight into both their experience and the emotions associated with it. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026 Alongside the art for sale, visitors can encounter site-specific works, special exhibitions and public programs that offer various ways into Atlanta’s contemporary art scene and the broader conversations shaping it. — Andrew Alexander, AJC.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Noun

Questions about the allegations have intensified as different accounts of the encounter have emerged. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026 Survivors of encounters with the monster later show signs of the film’s unsubtle equivalent to radiation sickness. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for encounter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter

Verb

Built in the mid-1980s at the height of Cold War tensions, it was upgraded to meet current standards.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Nikhil Basu Trivedi, cofounder of the venture firm Footwork and GPTZero’s sole outside board member before the Superhuman deal, first met Tian through the Princeton network.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of meet

Verb

Soaker bathtubs, gas fireplaces, and sofas for curling up with a good book are found here, too.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Not only does Jeong-yo have an emotional connection to his music performance that Pi-o struggles to find himself, but Pi-o has injured his pinky in the leadup to the final performance, thanks to his obsessive practicing.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of find

Verb

Brendan McDermid | Reuters Billionaire investor Ray Dalio warned on Thursday that stocks face mounting pressure from rising bond yields and the prospect of weaker corporate cash flows, even as earnings continue to grow.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Yet people who use drugs continue to face significant stigma in our health care system and in the broader public policy debate.

— Philip A. Chan, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of face

Noun

Ties between the two countries, which had deteriorated sharply following a deadly border skirmish in 2020, have been thawing for more than a year.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
The duo walks away from this skirmish, though not unscathed, as Samjad quickly and economically sets up a blistering saga of stylish reprisals with no holds barred.

— Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of skirmish

Noun

Angle the brush at about 45 degrees where the tooth meets the gum and use short, gentle circular or overlapping strokes.

— Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
There are two temperature settings—356 and 410 degrees Fahrenheit for the curling attachments, with slightly lower heat options for the thermal brush.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of brush

Verb

Set the scene Step past the elegant doormen, caps raised, into a lobby where gold and silver leaves, suspended from the ceiling, catch the light that pours into the building through its vast crystal canopy roof.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Most of his production came from receiver Malik Washington, who caught five balls for 67 yards.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of catch

Noun

In July, the music artist and producer spent some solo time after getting into a prison fight, sources told TMZ and NBC News.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary of independence, Smithsonian leaders are turning to AI to better understand items in its collection tied to the fight that led to the country’s founding.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026