as in to oppose
to strive to reduce or eliminate
efforts to counter poverty in every sector of our country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in negative
opposed to one's interests
was unprepared for such a strong counter campaign by opponents of the legislative bill
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Economists and health‑policy experts counter that even aggressive savings in prescription drugs and billing reform would only touch part of what is driving a $38 trillion debt built on structural deficits, rising interest costs and political gridlock.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Graziano's not only sells its sausage over the counter, but offers shipping nationwide and sells its products regionally through supermarkets that include Hy-Vee.
—Philip Joens, Des Moines Register, 6 Jan. 2026
Davis Winkie, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Patients usually recover on their own and can take steps to manage symptoms, including using over-the counter medications for pain and fever and making sure to stay hydrated.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Benjamin D. Summers, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
This particular 40 mm reference (W1SP10) has a stainless-steel case and bracelet with rose-gold accents and a grey dial with a small seconds counter at 6 o’clock.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counter
Verb
This, in turn, reinforced Webster’s own initial claim about his fight with the MPD cop—that Rathbun had provoked the encounter by striking him in the head, then lied about it to counter Webster’s righteous assertion of self-defense, resulting in his wrongful conviction.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Economists and health‑policy experts counter that even aggressive savings in prescription drugs and billing reform would only touch part of what is driving a $38 trillion debt built on structural deficits, rising interest costs and political gridlock.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
Whatever language is used to describe it — counter-narcotics, stabilization, transition — this was an act of war, undertaken without the constitutional mechanisms designed to restrain exactly this kind of unilateral executive action.
—Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Graziano's not only sells its sausage over the counter, but offers shipping nationwide and sells its products regionally through supermarkets that include Hy-Vee.
—Philip Joens, Des Moines Register, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The counter-drug campaign, which legal experts argue could violate the law, has faced criticism from regional leaders such as Colombia's President Gustavo Petro.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Patients usually recover on their own and can take steps to manage symptoms, including using over-the counter medications for pain and fever and making sure to stay hydrated.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Adverb
There exist mathematical frameworks that, counter to conventional methods, reveal with absolute clarity the probability an institution will meet its spending policy—and provide the engineering principles to maximize it.
—Benjamin D. Summers, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
This particular 40 mm reference (W1SP10) has a stainless-steel case and bracelet with rose-gold accents and a grey dial with a small seconds counter at 6 o’clock.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counter
Verb
-
How many voters supported, opposed Measure G In Nevada County, the largest portion of the library district, voters supported Measure G with by a 7-to-3 margin.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Her sentiments seemed to oppose the ongoing family drama amid reports of tension within her extended family, including her son Brooklyn and his wife, Nicola Peltz Beckham.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Houses have been being built here since the early 1900s, and so there's different offsets.—
Ted Scouten,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Top with half of the Nutella, swirling it into the batter with a small offset spatula or a butter knife.—
Midwest Living,
Midwest Living,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The result is a workforce that is smaller, less dynamic, and aging faster, precisely when adaptation to technological change requires the opposite.—
Jane Sadowsky,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The two powerhouses were political opposites but became friends and cut deals.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
In a recent Instagram post, Kardashian laughed off negative reviews of the show, which also stars Sarah Paulson, Naomi Watts and Glenn Close, has been receiving from fans.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
People with a nonfunctioning ANGPTL3 gene — which Natarajan says applies to about 1 in 250 people in the US — have lifelong levels of low LDL cholesterol and triglycerides without any apparent negative consequences.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
The show has been a huge hit for Netflix but will move across in less than two year’s time.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Such impacts can excavate craters tens of feet across, even from meteoroids weighing just a few pounds.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Barton gave the jury the impression of a man prepared to go into daily combat on numerous fronts, constantly fighting one battle after another, in service of his principles.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Players fought, fought, fought, gave us every chance in the world.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The perfect balance for a sport that jostles between exquisite and excruciating.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Peterson, who did indeed return to the court, was hacked on an off-balance 3 with one second to play.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There are guns, horses, ghosts, a primal struggle for survival in hostile terrain, family feuds and a steadily intensifying sense of mortal threat, as Old Porch’s ambition and psychopathy escalate the drama.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Fire department suffering low morale When Washington was fired, City Manager Sheryl Long blamed him for creating a hostile work environment for female firefighters and for failing to improve the department's workplace culture.—
Aaron Valdez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counter. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share