as in to confront
to approach and speak to (someone) often in an angry, aggressive, or unwanted way
He was accosted by peddlers selling touristy trinkets on the street. She was so famous that people would accost her on the street and ask for an autograph.
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Recent Examples of accost
The body cam footage, however, jerks with panicked motions of the officers who accosted Augustus on the sidewalk, and their breathless attempts after the shooting to put their actions in the most favorable light.
—
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
Probably her most famous photo, an only-in-New-York moment, depicts a heavily garbed Hasidic Jew who has somehow wandered onto a nudist beach at Jacob Riis Park, in Queens, only to be accosted by a stark-naked posing bodybuilder.
—Arthur Lubow, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Three snaps into his outing, when an Eagles safety banged him a moment after an incompletion, Kelce whirled in anger and accosted him.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025
Haynes’ relatives reportedly told police that the woman had accosted Haynes at his workplace, Highland Hospital.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for accost
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
Probably her most famous photo, an only-in-New-York moment, depicts a heavily garbed Hasidic Jew who has somehow wandered onto a nudist beach at Jacob Riis Park, in Queens, only to be accosted by a stark-naked posing bodybuilder.
—Arthur Lubow, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Three snaps into his outing, when an Eagles safety banged him a moment after an incompletion, Kelce whirled in anger and accosted him.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025
Haynes’ relatives reportedly told police that the woman had accosted Haynes at his workplace, Highland Hospital.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for accost
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accost
Verb
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The brothers, having both military and criminal experience (not to mention their Chicago armamentarium), confront white racists with startling boldness, openly threatening Hogwood.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2025
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What the narrator has to get away from is the assortment of low-grade humiliations and condescending attitudes she is confronted with every day while clocked in at the restaurant.—
Rhian Sasseen,
The Atlantic,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Do not approach water, wet objects, or metal items.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Apr. 2025
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In a recent video shared by the shelter, Shawn lit up as a volunteer approached his kennel.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The investigating vessels encountered three Chinese coast guard vessels, whose movements became increasingly confrontational as their South Korean counterparts neared their destination at about 2:30 p.m. February 26, according to media accounts.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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The server encountered a temporary error and could not complete your request.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Accost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accost. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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