counterexample
noun
coun·ter·ex·am·ple
ˈkau̇n-tər-ig-ˌzam-pəl 
: an example that refutes or disproves a proposition or theory
Examples of counterexample in a Sentence
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The great counterexample is ancient Athens, which was steered by a five-hundred-person council whose members were generally chosen by lot.
—
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Amazon is the counterexample everyone reaches for — the growth-prioritizing company that famously refused to turn a profit and still won.
—Rory McDonald, Fortune, 6 June 2026
But there are counterexamples that lend to optimism.
—Matt K. Lewis, Mercury News, 5 June 2026
The coding-tool fight is the counterexample running in real time.
—Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
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Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Amazon is the counterexample everyone reaches for — the growth-prioritizing company that famously refused to turn a profit and still won.
—Rory McDonald, Fortune, 6 June 2026
But there are counterexamples that lend to optimism.
—Matt K. Lewis, Mercury News, 5 June 2026
The coding-tool fight is the counterexample running in real time.
—Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterexample
Cite this Entry
“Counterexample.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterexample. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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