counterrevolution

noun

coun·​ter·​rev·​o·​lu·​tion ˌkau̇n-tər-ˌre-və-ˈlü-shən How to pronounce counterrevolution (audio)
ˌkau̇n-tə-
1
: a revolution directed toward overthrowing a government or social system established by a previous revolution
2
: a movement to counteract revolutionary trends
counterrevolutionary adjective or noun

Example Sentences

The leader vowed to stop any attempt at counterrevolution. Soldiers loyal to the President led the counterrevolution.
Recent Examples on the Web Tunisia was the first blossom of the 2011 Arab Spring — and the only bloom to have not sadly withered on the vine as pro-democracy uprisings gave way to civil wars and brutal autocratic counterrevolutions around the region. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2023 But the roots of that counterrevolution can be found in previous decades, in the businessmen’s war against the New Deal, in industry’s relentless fight for secrecy and against regulation, in segregation and every other tactic to safeguard the spoils of the few. Scott W. Stern, The New Republic, 10 Jan. 2023 This mass emigration included many of the country’s wealthiest residents, people with the means and motivation to seek a counterrevolution. David Reamer | Alaska History, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Apr. 2023 The overweening progressivism of the Wilson presidency catalyzed a reaction, with progressive theorists streaming into Democratic senior ranks, while Wilson’s Republican successors (Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge) led a conservative, small-government counterrevolution. Dan Mclaughlin, National Review, 16 Mar. 2022 But that’s not what happened: The assassination delivered Nixon and Watergate, prolonged the war and exacerbated social strife—eventually giving rise to the conservative counterrevolution, Reagan, the disemboweling of the safety net, Bushes 1 and 2, the Iraq War, and Trump. Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 23 Jan. 2022 With Syria, Yemen and Libya undone by civil war, Egypt’s attempt at democracy crushed by a counterrevolution and protests in the Gulf States quickly extinguished, Tunisia was the only country to emerge from the Arab Spring revolutions with a democracy, if a fragile one. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2021 With Syria, Yemen, and Libya undone by civil war, Egypt’s attempt at democracy crushed by a counterrevolution and protests in the Gulf States quickly snuffed out, Tunisia was the only country to emerge from the Arab Spring revolutions with a democracy, if a fragile one. BostonGlobe.com, 26 July 2021 The conservative counterrevolution in education may be just beginning. The Editors, National Review, 27 Jan. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'counterrevolution.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterrevolution was in 1793

Dictionary Entries Near counterrevolution

Cite this Entry

“Counterrevolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterrevolution. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

counterrevolution

noun
coun·​ter·​rev·​o·​lu·​tion ˌkau̇nt-ə(r)-ˌrev-ə-ˈlü-shən How to pronounce counterrevolution (audio)
: a revolution intended to overthrow a government established by an earlier revolution
counterrevolutionary adjective or noun
counterrevolutionist
-ˈlü-sh(ə-)nəst
noun

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