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Showing results for encounter.
Definitions

encounter

[en-koun-ter] / ɛnˈkaʊn tər /
NOUN
brief or unexpected meeting
Synonyms
STRONGEST
interview meeting rendezvous
STRONG
appointment concurrence
Antonyms
STRONGEST
date
NOUN
fight, argument
Synonyms
STRONGEST
action battle bout clash combat conflict contest dispute quarrel run-in skirmish violence
STRONG
brush collision contention engagement flap fray hassle rumpus scrap set-to
WEAK
velitation
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accord agreement truce
WEAK
evasion retreat surrender
VERB
happen upon
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bear bump into come across come upon confront detect experience face find meet run into suffer turn up
STRONG
close descry espy front sustain undergo
WEAK
alight upon chance upon cross the path fall in with hit upon meet up with rub eyeballs run across run smack into
Antonyms
STRONGEST
avoid dodge lose miss pass by
WEAK
evade retreat run away
VERB
fight, attack
Synonyms
STRONGEST
collide confront engage face meet
STRONG
affront battle combat conflict contend grapple strive struggle
WEAK
clash with cross swords do battle
Antonyms
STRONG
retreat surrender
WEAK
avoid evade let go run away yield

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Good Friday derbies between St Helens and Wigan rarely disappoint and the final stages of this encounter were no exception.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

A new edition offers American readers a fresh opportunity to encounter this erudite, deliciously dark narrative about growing older but not quite wiser.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Each encounter drains a little more energy and confidence.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

An encounter with police carries its own risks.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

This encounter with Hesterfowl could be delicate: a conversation between two servants of the all-knowing universe.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.