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

This is exactly the kind of encounter the new Natural Selection Hoanib Elephant Camp was built around. — Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026 The company gained lawful possession of the home in probate proceedings in the fall of 2025, but when one of its employees tried to take possession of it, the employee encountered Sguros, according to the affidavit. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026

Noun

In a statement Wednesday night, Woodland Police Chief Ryan Kinnan said investigators reviewed video evidence of Tuesday’s encounter and determined that several claims made by federal immigration officials were inaccurate. — Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026 While the incidents are still being investigated, police shared some of the circumstances of the encounters on Thursday. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for encounter

Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounter

Verb

Tonight, Venus, your ruler, meets the Sun and could illuminate how your values have shifted during its retrograde.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
In 2015, five people with ROS1+ cancer met in a bar at an advocacy event.

— STAT Staff, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of meet

Verb

Neither team could find a flow from three-point range in the first half as the teams combined to shoot five for 29 from deep — three of 16 by Golden State and two for 13 by Atlanta.

— Janie McCauley, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Of the first 15 plays for the Dallas offense, 10 were on the ground, and the Cowboys found success.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of find

Verb

The group has faced criticism over its stances on various issues, including the wars in Gaza and Iran.

— Saige Miller, NPR, 22 Oct. 2026
The move also lands weeks before Election Day, as Hochul faces Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman, who has criticized her for not opting in sooner.

— Lara Murray-Sterzel, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of face

Noun

Interior Secretary Harold Ickes ended the skirmish by imposing a truce and persuading Congress to designate the dam as a federal project.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
And then late in the second half, Miami was called for two 15-yard penalties following a punt with Bobby Pruitt called for a facemask and Keona Davis a personal foul that occurred during a skirmish after the play.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of skirmish

Verb

It’s been covered breathlessly on Instagram and by celebrity media — led by the former Access Hollywood host Billy Bush, who last Monday on his podcast described being confronted by Griffin at a wedding on the Hawaiian island of Lanai.

— Ben Smith, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
The country is deeply polarized, increasingly castigated by the rest of the world, and confronting a resurgence of antisemitism.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of confront

Noun

The other was a man helping organize the fair who had experienced an eerily similar brush with death once before.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
The city has already deployed goats to chomp away at invasive brush along the hillsides, but Cosgrove, who wrote Measure M, said more work is necessary to protect the community.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of brush

Verb

SpaceX's confidence in its ability to catch both the Super Heavy and Ship stages has been building this year, following three launches so far in 2026.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026
In Minor Black Figures, Taylor casts a sharp gaze on the New York art scene through the eyes of Wyeth, a young Black painter caught in the throes of creative struggle.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026