coun·ter·ar·gu·ment | \ ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈär-gyə-mənt 
\
\variants:
or counter-argument
plural counterarguments or counter-arguments
Definition of counterargument
: an opposing argument
Joseph Stiglitz's new book, "The Price of Inequality," is the single most comprehensive counterargument to both Democratic neoliberalism and Republican laissez-faire theories.— Thomas B. Edsall … careful consideration of each of the arguments made by the appellant, and of the counter-arguments advanced by the appellees …— Jonathan M. Landers et al.
Examples of counterargument in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web This 2018 rejoinder offers a strong counterargument, a history of the area alongside an analysis of its varied communities.
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Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, "8 books you should read instead of ‘Hillbilly Elegy’," 19 Nov. 2020 However those who questioned coach Brian Flores' decision to switch to Tagovailoa will have further fuel for their counterargument.
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Nate Davis, USA TODAY, "32 things we learned from Week 8 of the 2020 NFL season," 2 Nov. 2020 The counterargument is a redbeard in Southern California named Justin Turner, the Dodgers third baseman, who remains one of the league’s best hitters at 35.
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Henry Schulman, SFChronicle.com, "How long can Mike Yastrzemski defy his age? Answer could shape Giants’ plans," 14 Oct. 2020 The counterargument here is that more MLS games are good for him in the long run.
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Alex Vejar, The Salt Lake Tribune, "Three Points: RSL is not a playoff team, Erik Holt is a defensive liability, and the injury policy needs a change," 5 Oct. 2020 The counterargument is that law enforcement and private sectors are getting better at coordinated strikes that significantly disrupt operations, even if only temporarily.
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Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, "Hammer drops on hackers accused of targeting game and software makers," 17 Sep. 2020 The counterargument is harder to explain but, to my mind, more persuasive: The Electoral College forces presidential candidates to campaign in all parts of the country and appeal to a broader coalition of voters.
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Barton Swaim, WSJ, "Electoral College Is a Bulwark Against Fraud," 15 Sep. 2020 The attention and fallout that such a killing would generate could be more dangerous than the threat a particular individual represents, this counterargument goes.
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Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, "What Navalny’s Poisoning Really Says About the Current State of Putin’s Russia," 21 Aug. 2020 This continues to serve China’s elite but has prompted a counterargument from the United States, Ma said: If Hong Kong no longer enjoys political autonomy, Washington will no longer afford it the privileges of economic autonomy.
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Ryan Ho Kilpatrick, Washington Post, "‘Made in China’ label ruling hits a raw nerve in Hong Kong," 14 Aug. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'counterargument.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for counterargument
The first known use of counterargument was in 1812
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