ENCOUNTERING Synonyms: 56 Similar and Opposite Words

encountering

verb

present participle of encounter

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Yiyun Li on encountering the past in writing Music Against the Night. — Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026 Skipping furnace servicing can also heighten your risk of encountering problems like carbon monoxide leaks, poor air quality, and airflow, and inconsistent heating. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 15 Oct. 2026 As part of orchestrating this project, Simon was also involved in securing visas for the various international performers, encountering in the process the uneven access to travel for cultural workers across classes, nationalities, and milieus. — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026 The teaser also introduces Ellis’ Alex Holland, who is encountering some of the same problems Nolan did while embarking on a new career as a cop midlife but in a leafier, more rural environment — and the same conviction. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026 Some viewers were encountering the idea of book lice for the first time. — Martine Thompson, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2026 Sprinklers that operate during periods of heavy pedestrian traffic may unnecessarily increase the risk of someone encountering a wet or slippery walkway. — Christyne D. Santisteban, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026 The result is an audience that can discover his comedy online before encountering a fuller, more complete performer onstage. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Chances of encountering a shark in Southern California are higher in October, when warmer coastal waters attract both prey and juvenile sharks. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for encountering

Verb

Matt Passmore, Emily Rose, Gabriel Nagy and Hudson Macready star in the film, which tells the true story of a family confronting addiction and loss while finding its way back to one another.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
These kinds of tradeoffs will keep confronting tech leaders as long as that disparity persists.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of confronting

Verb

There was very little original local production, and people were finding their favourite TV shows through obscure corners of the web.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
This pliability has made the app particularly popular for casual, real-time occasions—such as finding the ideal hostess gift for a weekend visit or selecting a thoughtful token for a friend—without resorting to generic fallback options.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of finding

Verb

Hickel, meanwhile, distinguished the uncertainty facing professional employment from the enduring ability to create art.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
City Hall said Monday's announcement came in response to the retirement of an officer facing internal disciplinary charges over the death of 19-year-old Win Rozario, who was fatally shot by officers in 2024 during a mental health crisis.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of facing

Verb

Sessions this year addressed such topics as AI, workforce development, student success, campus safety and ways colleges can adapt to changing technology while meeting students' needs.

— Brandon Smith, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Investigators also discovered that Alfozan had used a workplace productivity tool to research company buildings, conference room locations, meeting schedules, and areas frequented by executives.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of meeting

Verb

While the players pull up socks, lace their boots and catch up with each other, head coach Ryan Pore enters, greeting each of them — one after another — with a handshake.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026
Kaya spoke first at the hearing, politely greeting the judge from a seat in front of a set of curtains.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of greeting

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encountered

encountering

encounters

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Style

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

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Synonyms of encountering

verb

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