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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of accost
Indeed, to walk through a crowded room with Talese, 92, is to be accosted by men wanting to talk about suits.
—
Sadie Stein, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025
After the video was posted online, the victim who took the video and her husband were accosted by more than a dozen suspects in the Edge of Lowry’s courtyard and parking lot area and taken to a vacant unit, Chamberlain said Friday.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 23 Dec. 2024
The Bohemian Rhapsody star reflected on being accosted by police in a new interview.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 18 Jan. 2025
The male and female victims were accosted by more than a dozen armed people and taken against their will to another unit inside the same complex, Chamberlain said.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for accost
Sadie Stein, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025
After the video was posted online, the victim who took the video and her husband were accosted by more than a dozen suspects in the Edge of Lowry’s courtyard and parking lot area and taken to a vacant unit, Chamberlain said Friday.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 23 Dec. 2024
The Bohemian Rhapsody star reflected on being accosted by police in a new interview.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 18 Jan. 2025
The male and female victims were accosted by more than a dozen armed people and taken against their will to another unit inside the same complex, Chamberlain said.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for accost
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accost
Verb
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The 79-year-old Oscar winner embraces the challenging role of the Dutton family matriarch alongside co-star Harrison Ford, confronting everything from mountain lions to the harsh realities of frontier life.—
Holly Williams,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2025
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They were reported for confronting community members at 11 businesses.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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This panel will dive into the art of the cold read, providing actors with the tools to approach any audition with confidence, preparation, and authenticity.—
Essence,
Essence,
3 Mar. 2025
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But one of my adjustments took me a by surprise, and that is the quandary of how to approach lunch.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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New York’s lower courts, where most New Yorkers encounter the legal system, still stand in the way of justice and progress.—
Peter Martin,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2025
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But what happened to his brain was remarkable – the only such case ever encountered by archeologists.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Accost.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accost. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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