encounters

NOUN

chance meeting

Synonyms

STRONGEST

confrontation interview rendezvous

STRONG

appointment brush concurrence

Antonyms

WEAK

avoidance evasion retreat surrender yielding

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 calm harmony peace truce

WEAK

avoidance evasion retreat surrender yielding

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 refuse

WEAK

evade let go retreat run away surrender yield

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

STRONGEST

cancel disconnect

STRONG

agree 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.

Some of the rituals Mr. Feiler encounters are conscious modifications of existing rites.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Donald Trump's summit with China's leader Xi Jinping in Beijing this week was the latest in decades of high-level diplomatic encounters between the two countries marked by drama, tension and surprising breakthroughs.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Other possible explanations for asteroid activity include rotational breakup, gravitational tidal forces during close planetary encounters and the release of trapped gases.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2026

Hig’s days are spent flying perimeter patrols, scanning for signs of life — or trouble — until he encounters Margaret Qualley’s Cima, a medic guarding her own small foothold in the ruined world.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Children’s musical encounters can be self- or peer-initiated, or teacher- or staff-initiated in a classroom or daycare setting.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin