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
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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
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
His past work includes The Chastain and Steven Satterfield’s Miller Union, but most recently—and importantly—Cuddlefish, Michelin-awarded chef Jason Liang’s new temaki counter.
—Su-Jit Lin, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026
Katie Stockton, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
This was not simply a counter-narcotics operation.
—NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
And when placed counter to men in power, we’re shamed; just take the long-overdue imprisonment of Diddy and the public vitriol towards his female victims.
—Essence, 15 Oct. 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
Guests sitting at two six-seat counters set in private rooms will have the option to pair the meal with Champagne, wine, sake or tea.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
His past work includes The Chastain and Steven Satterfield’s Miller Union, but most recently—and importantly—Cuddlefish, Michelin-awarded chef Jason Liang’s new temaki counter.
—Su-Jit Lin, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
But our post featuring a turnaround in Estee Lauder (EL) was even more opportunistic and memorable in that that stock staged a lasting bullish reversal following a strong counter-trend setup in an environment characterized by persistent weakness in the broader consumer staples sector.
—Katie Stockton, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
This was not simply a counter-narcotics operation.
—NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
Adverb
Here, a butcher block counter where the sink is located makes for easy chopping and rinsing while integrating seamlessly with the rest of this all-wood kitchen.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
And when placed counter to men in power, we’re shamed; just take the long-overdue imprisonment of Diddy and the public vitriol towards his female victims.
—Essence, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counter
Verb
-
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System passed a resolution Thursday opposing the expansion of Waymo’s robotaxis.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Various Christian faith healing groups, which believe in prayer over medicine, and Christian Scientists, which believe illness is an illusion, oppose vaccines.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Jan. 2026
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 painter now has a wife who resembles the ethereal woman in appearance though is the opposite of her in every other way.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
-
In fact, quite the opposite; CNN polling found just 26% of American adults view the shooting of Renee Good as appropriate, similar to the sentiment found in surveys by Yahoo-YouGov (27%) and Quinnipiac (35%).—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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For decades, researchers have compared places with higher and lower levels of pollutants and have looked at differences in premature deaths and other negative health outcomes while controlling for other factors that could affect those numbers.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
14 Jan. 2026
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The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is now being sued for soliciting complaints about teachers who made negative public comments about Charlie Kirk in the wake of the conservative activist’s death last fall.—
Clark Kauffman,
Des Moines Register,
14 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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The sitting area, in the middle of the floating bridge at Lake Como Park, is about 15 feet across.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The cluster is 6-to-13 light-years across and has some of the hottest and biggest stars found in the Milky Way.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Fifty years ago, my father was a Vietnamese soldier who fought as an ally to the United States Armed Forces in Vietnam.—
Bao Phi,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Dickens’ appearance was during an ongoing back and forth fight between the city and MARTA over transit expansion in Atlanta.—
Riley Bunch,
AJC.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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From cushioned walking sneakers and polished loafers to cozy slippers and cold-weather boots built for snowy streets, these deals balance function, style, and value.—
Amber Love Bond,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Jan. 2026
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Thanks to its large construction, capacity to hold up to 330 pounds, and balance spreader bar, multiple people can lounge in the hammock at once.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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For example, if one aircraft that looks like a civilian plane launches a missile, the enemy might have a reason to believe other civilian aircraft are potentially hostile.—
Eleanor Watson,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
-
During the Cold War, administrations authorized CIA operations against hostile regimes engaged in subversion and criminal conduct.—
Timothy M. Herbst,
Hartford Courant,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counter. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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