encounters 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of encounter
1
as in meets
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
2
as in finds
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 faces
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

encounters

2 of 2

noun

plural of encounter
as in skirmishes
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 encounters
Verb
Throughout the journey, the conservationist, television host and executive producer encounters black bears, alligators and native fish while documenting active wildlife rescue and conservation efforts. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026 Every leader eventually encounters a mountain that cannot be crossed through vision alone. — Jason Bork, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 The prince, Ashitaka, encounters a forest-dwelling young woman called San on his journey and the two become friends, teaming up to help save the forest and end his curse. — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026 Through four series, Spartacus encounters brutal battles, heart-rending betrayals, and more. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026 Whether that recovery proceeds as EIA expects or encounters the technical obstacles Berman warns about could determine how long the economic consequences of the conflict linger after the shooting stops. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026 This is also where Bilbo first encounters a mysterious and magical ring. — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026 The Cleveland Clinic recommends anyone who encounters mold to clean it using products like bleach, using an air conditioner or dehumidifier and turning on exhaust fans among other measures. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 22 Aug. 2026 While retracing his route, revisiting photos, and dredging her memories for clues to his distress, Lotte encounters dangers and pushes her limits. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
The days spent with the other witnesses as well as the encounters and testimonies shed light on events that had remained unresolved for decades. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 Even Velvet, after seven or eight encounters and a viral video, barely knows him. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2026 Or how, unlike hallucinations, which are quickly forgotten, these encounters stay with survivors for decades. — Michael Collins, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 Yet the company excluded the majority of those harms from its public reports, designing its metrics so that many of the worst encounters were never captured. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026 These photographs emerged from encounters with sisters, daughters, mothers and friends — women whose lives are shaped by tradition, but also by a rapidly changing society. — Photovogue, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2026 But that only highlights the need for the public to give them ample space to avoid these jarring encounters, just like with any other wildlife. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The resort is a stone's throw from a major sea turtle habitat, and snorkeling tours that result in face-to-face encounters with a myriad of marine life are offered. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 Dershowitz has said the rift continued after that encounter, telling The Atlantic that David no longer speaks to him and has ignored him during subsequent encounters. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encounters
  1. meets
  2. finds
  3. faces
  4. skirmishes
  5. confronts
  6. fights
  7. catches
  8. brushes
Verb
  • In the book, Abigail meets Bret at La Scala, a great Beverly Hills restaurant that still exists.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Motorsport meets nuclear engineering Power conversion sits between the reactor and the electrical grid.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of meets
Verb
  • His Samoyed hops up and finds a spot between the athlete’s legs and the sofa’s back pillows.
    — Nick Remsen, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Boscagli finds Pascal Gross, who feeds the ball into the feet of Wieffer, who can then pass to Diego Gomez.
    — Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of finds
Verb
  • The company now faces a larger test as deployments expand beyond a single vessel.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Gluesenkamp Perez faces a tough challenge from John Braun, the minority leader of the Washington state Senate.
    — Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of faces
Noun
  • Its outcome will be a major milestone in the decades-long political skirmishes over CEQA.
    — Dan Walters, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In 1988, for instance, Khomeini finally agreed to end his war with Iraq after the United States began engaging Iranian naval ships in direct skirmishes, leading him to fear that Reagan might formally align with Saddam Hussein’s regime.
    — Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of skirmishes
Verb
  • As Leanne confronts more change in Season 2, like turning 60 and coming to terms with aging parents that require more care, Carol remains a blunt support system.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The song is written as a conversation with that mythic other woman, who Parton confronts here in a way that manages to come across as both extremely vulnerable and drawing on a huge reserve of strength.
    — Ed Masley, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of confronts
Noun
  • In a few boss fights, the battles can suddenly change into a completely different format.
    — George Yang, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • While clearing mobs of enemies can be fun, the combat really shines during the game’s many boss fights.
    — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of fights
Verb
  • The hefty cod and haddock catches from the chilled Arctic waters around Iceland are central to the national identity too.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Put simply, when banks sneeze, the rest of the financial system catches pneumonia.
    — Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of catches
Noun
  • The neighborhood/area Low-key and residential, dotted with independent businesses—including workshops still turning out traditional brushes, fans, and delicate woodwork.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
  • This kit makes both jobs simple with tools for cleaning up to 15-foot vents with flexible rods, specialty brushes that fit inside lint traps, and tweezers to reach into all the nooks and crannies.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of brushes

Browse Nearby Words

encountering
encounters
encourage
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Cite this Entry

“Encounters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encounters. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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