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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
Residents have countered, however, that that doesn’t give the city the right to deprive them of voting on the change. Miami Herald, 14 July 2025 Democrats need a net gain of three House seats to break the GOP’s chokehold on Washington and reestablish a power center to counter Trump. Bill Barrow, Twin Cities, 14 July 2025
Adjective
Don't use the same cloth to wipe up a messy floor and a counter. Switch to microfiber dish and cleaning cloths. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 12 July 2025 Beef fans, meanwhile, should make a beeline for Wine Stand 88, a tiny counter shop that sells roast wagyu sandwiches. Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2025
Adverb
Robert Holden, a Queens City Council member that represents the area, shared a video on X during the 2024 raid that showed a sheriff’s deputy flipping a switch that changed the counter display glass from frosted to clear, revealing shelves of illicit weed products. Ashley Southall, New York Times, 15 May 2025 The duo has given readers and Korean food enthusiasts a counter seat to a Masterclass in Korean cooking from Sarah’s mom, a former restauranteur. Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for counter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counter
Verb
  • This is apt when considering the impacts of the Trump administration’s policy agenda, which has generated various opposing forces on economic growth this year.
    Jeffrey Schulze, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Washington County Treasurer and task force Chair Scott Henke said three of the five task force members opposed Accel's plan.
    Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Debt underwriting revenue, however, was a slight offset, declining slightly due to lower leveraged finance activity.
    Zev Fima, CNBC, 16 July 2025
  • At that rate, afforestation offsets would cost the 200 largest fossil fuel companies around $10.8 trillion — or roughly 11% of global GDP, according to the study.
    Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • In fact, his position and his actions do the opposite.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2025
  • In that way, cutting taxes that feed the trust fund does the opposite of protecting Social Security.
    Laurel Wamsley, NPR, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • In certain pockets, across some EU countries, this sort of geo-arbitrage or the existence of golden visas are viewed as negative, because of the view that expats can price locals out of the market for rents and cost of living.
    Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • Meanwhile, the brand that actually popularized the EV, moving it from compliance car and milk float to something desirable, has fallen even further into negative territory in July.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2025
Adverb
  • Receptive to the danger, Gibbs-White shuttles across, showing pace and defensive tenacity to make a strong tackle on Hutchinson, before instantly looking to play forward with an ambitious outside-of-the-boot pass in frame two.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • The water-free, no-rinse stick creates a slippery barrier on the skin so that your razor can smoothly glide across, leaving skin smooth and hydrated with sea moss, hyaluronic acid and ginger root oil.
    Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • Experts say the relatively simple way to survive this current is to float, stay as calm as possible and don’t fight it.
    Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
  • The tribe also has fought to preserve shrinking numbers of the c'waam and koptu, two fish species central to the three tribal cultures that form the tribe.
    Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • Each society or jurisdiction will determine the right balance of these elements to achieve the overarching policy goals under a set of normative values.
    Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • Her look included an A-line poplin skirt with crisp pleats that create shape and volume and a simple white tank top, striking the perfect balance between polished and relaxed.
    Nicol Natale, People.com, 19 July 2025
Adjective
  • Forced to work in a more hostile environment than.when it was first established in 2019, the mission faces limited options for evacuations due to the ongoing suspension of international commercial flights, and mobility, because of gangs’ ongoing gang encirclement of Port-au-Prince.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
  • From retail shops to corner bodegas and independent grocery stores, the past few years have not only forced small business owners to confront staggering economic challenges, but also a needlessly hostile regulatory environment brought on by out-of-touch policymakers.
    Tosha Miller, New York Daily News, 12 July 2025

Cite this Entry

“Counter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counter. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

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