counterprotest

noun

coun·​ter·​pro·​test ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌprō-ˌtest How to pronounce counterprotest (audio)
variants or counter-protest
plural counterprotests or counter-protests
Synonyms of counterprotestnext
: a protest staged to counter or oppose another protest
A rally … got heated Saturday afternoon. Police stepped in to help de-escalate tensions after a counterprotest emerged …Colleen MacDonald
counterprotester noun
or counter-protester
plural counterprotesters or counter-protesters
Standing near the back of the crowd at yesterday's rally were about a dozen counterprotesters Sue Young Wilson
Nazis may still march, but they are inevitably outnumbered by counter-protesters. Ellis Cose

Examples of counterprotest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Two people stood across Main Street holding counterprotest signs. Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026 Wideman said their event was not any sort of counterprotest and that its scheduling on the same day as the other events was not intentional. Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2025 Even as the deployment was being debated in court, the increasingly contentious protests and counterprotests outside of the South Portland ICE facility continued Sunday night. Kelly McCleary, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025 The union protest moved to the outside of City Hall around 10 a.m. for Ayala's remarks, and the counterprotest followed suit. Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for counterprotest

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterprotest was in 1595

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Cite this Entry

“Counterprotest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterprotest. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

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