Accost — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈkȯst/ ac·cost

Meaning & Definition of Accost

Accost (verb)

  1. to approach and speak to (someone) in an often challenging or aggressive way

Accost (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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."

    similar: approach, corner, beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave, outface, face up (to), front, affront, challenge, encounter, meet, repel, resist, stand, withstand, battle, combat, contend (with), fight, oppose, square (off)
    opposite: avoid, eschew, shun, elude, escape, evade, shake, dodge, duck, funk, shirk, sidestep

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Accost

The most common words with a similar meaning to Accost:

approach, corner, beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave, outface, face up (to), front, affront, challenge, encounter, meet, repel, resist, stand, withstand, battle, combat, contend (with), fight, oppose, square (off)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Accost

Words with the opposite meaning of Accost:

avoid, eschew, shun, elude, escape, evade, shake, dodge, duck, funk, shirk, sidestep

Word Forms of Accost

Inflections: accosted, accosting, accosts

Origin & Etymology of Accost

borrowed from Middle French accoster, going back to Old French, "to go alongside of, sail along the coast of, place (a vessel) beside another" (sʼacoster a "to take a place beside, draw near, support"), probably going back to Vulgar Latin *accostāre, from Latin ad- ad- + costa "rib, side" coast:1

First known use: 1567

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Accost

Frequently Asked Questions about Accost

What does "Accost" mean?

"Accost" means to approach and speak to (someone) in an often challenging or aggressive way. As a verb, it is defined as: to approach and speak to (someone) in an often challenging or aggressive way.

What is another word for "Accost"?

Other words for "Accost" include approach, corner, beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront and dare. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Accost" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Accost"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Accost". Common alternatives include approach, corner, beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy and face.

What is the opposite of "Accost"?

Antonyms of "Accost" include avoid, eschew, shun, elude, escape, evade, shake and dodge.

How do you use "Accost" in a sentence?

Examples of "Accost" in a sentence: "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.".

Is "Accost" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Accost" is a verb.

Is "Accost" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Accost" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Accost"?

"Accost" is pronounced /ə-ˈkȯst/ and divided into syllables as ac·cost.