Synonyms for accost
Most common
Definitions
- v. 1
To speak to first; to address; to greet.
- v. 2
To approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with a demand or request.
A beggar accosted me as soon as I stepped outside.
Forms
- Past participle
- accosted
e.g. accosted → greeted, addressed, approached, hailed…
Choose the right word
Address is slightly more formal than accost or greet, though it may often be interchanged with them.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- greet You should greet your betters by tipping your hat.
- confront I think it's time for me to confront that problem.
- waylay Bandits often waylay travelers on the mountain road.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| accost | rising | |
| greet | rising | |
| apostrophize | steady | |
| confront | rising | |
| waylay | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- hook1, hail1
- 5 letters
- speak1, greet1
- 6 letters
- salute2, invoke2, waylay2
- 7 letters
- address2, solicit3
- 8 letters
- approach2, confront2
- 12 letters
- apostrophize, apostrophise
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (salute2 = 2 syllables).