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counter

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noun

1
as in offset
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective strong moral guidance at home is the best counter to the pernicious allure of popular culture

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in opposite
something that is as different as possible from something else her version of the domestic dispute was almost the exact counter of what actually happened

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

counter

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adjective

counter

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adverb

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of counter
Verb
Baeza’s second-class-citizen status, glaringly disproportionate to his athletic gifts, runs directly counter to the core raison d’etre of the Derby’s points system, which was instituted twelve years ago to distill the talent selected for the Kentucky Derby gate. Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 And Trump is acting counter to federal law in doing so, which is no surprise for him. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 June 2025
Noun
The Cardinals are expected to counter with Sonny Gray, who is 10-5 this season with a 4.21 ERA. Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Aug. 2025 Melvin countered by going with a pinch-hitter in Flores, who drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and brought the Giants within two runs. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Sandler paid tribute to the late Cameron Boyce in a quick cameo when Happy walks up to a check-in booth where a person behind the counter is seen watching an episode of Jessie, which Boyce starred in from 2011 to 2015. Emily Blackwood, People.com, 31 July 2025 Last fall, continuous glucose monitors became available over the counter. Jia Jung, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2025
Adverb
The council action is counter to the position taken by the Naperville Financial Advisory Board, which voted 5-1 in May to recommend the adoption of the grocery tax over increasing the home rule sales tax. Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 16 July 2025 Staycation Woven Counter Height Stool This counter stool blends textures for a unique yet timeless look. Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 12 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for counter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counter
Verb
  • Many activists in Oak Park have consistently opposed the cameras and called for their removal.
    Bob Skolnik, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
  • President Donald Trump does not oppose the plan and has decided not to intervene in the conflict, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • An Education Department spokesperson told CNBC in an email Tuesday that the department has not offset any Social Security benefits since restarting collections on May 5 and has paused future Social Security offsets.
    Annie Nova, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2025
  • And even with a partial offset, child care is a huge expense and most companies simply don’t have the margin to subsidize it.
    Abby McCloskey, Boston Herald, 3 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This year, the opposite is true, as Shavers has put together his best case to make the team since joining the Bills as an undrafted rookie in 2023.
    Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
  • The folks back home don't feel like they're being hurt by tariffs, just the opposite.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • At these meetings, all manner of data were discussed and analyzed, resulting in strategies to combat negative trends.
    Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The approval margin reached its most negative on April 29 at -7.2 percentage points, which fell around Trump's 100-day mark.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 15 Aug. 2025
Adverb
  • Eventually, the ground will subside, leaving behind a crater about 1,000 feet deep and nearly 2 miles across, obliterating Oak Flat and its religious and environmental significance.
    Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Also moving across is Alpecin Deceuninck’s Edward Planckaert, known for his one-day and stage racing and being a reliable cog in sprint leadouts.
    Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In 2022, only 22 percent of Ukrainians favored a negotiated end to the war, and 73 percent favored Ukraine fighting until victory.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
  • For nonprofits, this means less time fighting fires and more time delivering impact.
    Saurav Bhattacharya, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Incorporating lateral lunges into your routine targets multiple muscle groups, improving balance and coordination.
    Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025
  • The acidity from the tomatoes and the sweetness from the corn balance the smokiness out nicely, as does the rich queso fresco and fresh cilantro.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The cooperative exercises typically elicit a hostile response from North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, who has steadily disapproved of the drills for years.
    Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Their reasons are practical and emotional: 76% cited concern for LGBTQ rights in general, while 71% cited hostile social and political environments.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Counter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counter. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.

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