counters 1 of 2

Definition of countersnext
present tense third-person singular of counter

counters

2 of 2

noun

plural of counter
1
as in offsets
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 opposites
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

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 counters
Verb
The symbolism of a Caucasian family welcoming a stranger — an immigrant who doesn’t look like them — to share their abode, forcefully counters how immigrants to our shores often are othered and ostracized. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025 But Drew Baldridge counters the idea that nice guys are losers. Tom Roland, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025 The Justice Department counters that legal principle is for governmental agencies, not for the president. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025 But the administration counters that the MQD has never before been applied to presidential actions regarding foreign affairs. James Sample, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2025 Dunkle says Trollinger counters his lack of size with surprising speed for the position. Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025 Beijing is likely to respond with diplomatic criticism and even economic coercion if Takaichi increases Tokyo’s support of Taiwan, counters China’s maritime expansionism, or manages to revise Japan’s postwar pacifist constitution. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 The musical both reflects that sexism and counters it. Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025 Asked about the potential for his inventions to cause suffering rather than liberation, Adcock counters with optimism. Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
Wipe down any small appliances (don’t forget underneath), bottles or storage containers, or decorations on your counters to remove dust or grease buildup every week. Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025 The defense counters that there was also a flashing light. Noel Murray, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025 Owners can seamlessly float between the living and dining rooms, plus the chef’s kitchen that features veined marble counters and backsplashes. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2025 The director counters, however, that there is a connection. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025 Toothpaste Transfer Tube Ounce-counters love sample-size mini toothpaste tubes (the ones that are even smaller than travel-sized toothpaste). Zoe Gates, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025 At its height in 2017, there were 150 Farm Bank deli counters slinging cheese that supposedly came from the company’s farms. Moisés Naím, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025 There's also a lot of cabinetry available, and quartz counters. New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2025 To prevent roaches, keep stove tops, counters and floors clean of grease and food; repair any plumbing leaks; seal cracks and holes near doors, windows and other areas of the home; and always keep an eye out for signs of cockroaches, which can include eggs, droppings and shed skins. Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counters
Verb
  • Roarke LaCoursiere, with the Indiana Catholic Conference, said the organization opposes the bill because while its members stand with the victims and their families, the death penalty doesn’t bring about justice.
    Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
  • The governor rightly opposes raising nation-leading personal income taxes but may be cracking open the door to raising business or other taxes to respond to federal cuts.
    Andrew Rein, New York Daily News, 6 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
  • Carbon offsets in sports are also in the news, with scandals erupting around them in connection with sports from FIFA’s 2022 World Cup to basketball’s LA Clippers.
    Brian P. McCullough, The Conversation, 10 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • To me, the best friends to hang out with are those that, despite our commonality, are opposites of me in some ways as well.
    Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Authoritarianism and libertarianism are commonly thought of as opposites—two poles on a political spectrum.
    Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Eleven finds her way to them, jumping inside the Mind Flayer to destroy Vecna, who’s controlling it from within, while Will fights telepathically from the outside, no longer empathetic or afraid to go toe to toe with his former saboteur.
    Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026
  • Ucg | Universal Images Group | Getty Images Novo Nordisk’s shift from a market darling to a serious underperformer has set the stage for a transitional 2026 as the Danish drugmaker fights to regain investor confidence in its weight loss business.
    Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Inside, the design balances warmth and innovation.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2025
  • About 5 million people use Propel's app to check their SNAP balances, and get coupons and discounts on groceries.
    Maria Aspan, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Jasmine Crowe-Houston is the founder of Goodr, an organization that regularly combats food waste by collaborating with businesses, foundations, governments, and sports teams to provide high-quality food to local communities.
    Ronny Maye, Essence, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Nourish Up, an organization that combats hunger in Mecklenburg County through food banks, grocery delivery and the meals on wheels program, served 164,000 people in 2024 alone.
    Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Some of these values—such as a disciplined commitment to physical fitness—are good and, in my opinion, necessary correctives to the enervating distractions of 21st-century living.
    Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
  • These are not radical demands, but overdue correctives necessary for restoring public trust in higher education.
    Ilya Shapiro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Counters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counters. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

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