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
Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 10 July 2025
The election board’s interpretation runs completely counter to that fundamental ingredient.
—Don Harmon, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
Connor Greene, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Co-host and former Eagles offensive lineman Jason Kelce countered his brother's stance.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Bryan West, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Folks swear by it for everything from wiping down kitchen counters to freshening up laundry, but despite its many uses, apple cider vinegar isn’t the miracle cleaner for everything.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Daniel Depetris, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Some types contain drugs to lessen inflammation or counter infection.
—Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counter
Verb
Cole added a butcher block counter for folding clothes to make the most of the space.
—Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 10 July 2025
The election board’s interpretation runs completely counter to that fundamental ingredient.
—Don Harmon, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
Noun
Trump designated several cartels as terrorist organizations in January and has since described the strikes as acts of self-defense to counter threats to national security.
—Connor Greene, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Co-host and former Eagles offensive lineman Jason Kelce countered his brother's stance.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
When the Target employees announced the launch, the fans screamed and were called up to the counter one by one.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Folks swear by it for everything from wiping down kitchen counters to freshening up laundry, but despite its many uses, apple cider vinegar isn’t the miracle cleaner for everything.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
For example, the Mexican government declared war on the cartels in 2006 and tasked the military with prosecuting counter-drug operations, only to see those very same cartels get even more violent in their response.
—Daniel Depetris, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Some types contain drugs to lessen inflammation or counter infection.
—Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counter
Verb
-
Put differently, opposing receivers have recorded the second-least fantasy points on the Panthers in 2025.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
-
One of the defendants, Benjamin Song — a 32-year-old former Marine Corps reservist who associates described to authorities as a cult-like ringleader who opposes the government on immigration enforcement and on other matters — shot Alvarado Police Department Lt.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And past models failed to consider cost offsets from recovering valuable isotopes for medical, industrial, and space applications.—
Kathryn Huff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Use an offset spatula to spread the batter in an even layer, completely covering the fruit.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While major pro sports leagues feature a stable arrangement, with unionized players negotiating a CBA and collectively bargained terms exempt from antitrust scrutiny, the opposite is true in college sports.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
In the end, the strike had the opposite of its intended effect.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The inflation hammering households is primarily due to the weak yen that the Abe government orchestrated with negative interest rates and massive monetary easing, causing a surge in energy and food prices that pinches voters’ wallets.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The website, though, shows a negative subtotal of more than $2 million, suggesting money allocated to the grant that was unspent.—
Meg Tirrell,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Alonso and his team will fly a total of 17 hours across to Kazakhstan and back, before facing Villarreal at home in La Liga on Saturday.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The fruit, which grow in clusters on the trunk and scaffold branches, are jumbo size compared to ordinary figs, reaching four inches across.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Meet Nashville's new crime-fighting Clydesdale Metro Nashville mounted patrol officer Michael Douglas squeezed a three-foot-long rubber chicken, producing an increasingly louder and closer screeching sound to try and provoke a 1,700-pound Clydesdale named Ross.—
Laura L. Davis,
Nashville Tennessean,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The event, launched in 1982, celebrates the freedom to read and express ideas and emphasizes the importance of fighting censorship.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This enables the whole brain system to return to a state of balance.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Oct. 2025
-
And this inflatable water mat makes tummy time a blast, while helping little ones develop better balance and stronger core muscles.—
Anja Webb,
Parents,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Tampa is heading into a hostile environment against a feisty Seattle Seahawks team that matches them with a 3-1 record.—
Josh Buckhalter,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Republicans, traditionally seen as more hostile to government, are often viewed as the shutdown aggressors.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counter. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share