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
If anything, cigarettes take it a step further; offering a tactile respite that counters the plastic rigidity of vapes. Gabriella Onessimo, Allure, 23 Jan. 2026 Where can one go to hear the moral sanity that counters the grudgeful actions of the American president? Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026 But, prosecutors said security camera footage and eyewitness testimony counters the self-defense claim. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026 Hawaii counters that to bring a gun into a shop or convenience store, for example, the gun owner must only ask an employee for permission. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026 On paper, the electric sedan holds a clear power advantage, while the Ferrari counters with its light weight and decades of chassis tuning. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026 But Becky's lawyer, Josh Block of the ACLU, counters that there are always winners and losers in sports, as well as special advantages. Nina Totenberg, NPR, 13 Jan. 2026 Holding Liat is the rare film that counters polarization by reaching the hearts of viewers regardless of their sympathies toward Israel or Palestine. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2026 Jesse Plemons leans into unhinged intensity, while Emma Stone counters with calculated control. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
But searing also often results in oil that splatters all over the stovetop (and sometimes the surrounding counters, floor, appliances…and the cook). Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Jan. 2026 Without concerted effort, areas like kitchen counters and bathroom sinks can easily turn into landing strips for everything from setting spray to immersion blenders, Bergman explains. Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 29 Jan. 2026 The 50,000 square-foot grocery store includes a pharmacy, cheese shop, sushi kiosk, deli, bakery, and meat and seafood counters. Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Jan. 2026 From exclusive six-seat counters to beloved West End izakayas, here is our definitive guide to the Japanese restaurants in London that are truly worth the hype. Liam Hess, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026 The increase in the deficit counters Trump’s efforts to use tariffs to reduce imbalances around the globe. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026 Memories on the Mile Nearly 50 years ago, when the Snows were in a previous Gables location on the same block, Judy went into labor behind one of the counters. Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026 Once confined to hospitality, requests for gratuities now appear in unexpected places—airlines, medical offices, auto repair shops, logistics providers, even butcher counters and impound lots. Mark Bender, Harvard Business Review, 27 Jan. 2026 These eight spots offer exemplary versions, found at seafood counters in the city, and on oyster farms and in fish shacks up and down the coast. Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
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
  • The social cost of carbon is considered a more accurate accounting of harm from climate change than other calculations used as the basis of carbon credits or carbon offsets to travelers, according to Scripps.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 15 Jan. 2026
  • That extra $71 billion offsets almost 60% of the gains from tariffs.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2026
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
  • The National Immigration Law Center fights in courts and legislatures to protect low-income immigrants, ensuring that civil rights don’t disappear simply because of where someone was born.
    Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • On the outskirts of the crowd, fights broke out between protesters and counter-protesters.
    Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Keep your credit card balances low Try to use less than 30% of your available credit on each card.
    Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
  • There are other ways to organize debt, lower monthly payments or reduce balances, all without borrowing more money upfront.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The Last Gift Study, launched in 2017, combats that issue by conducting an autopsy immediately after a patient’s death.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
  • Fit was prioritized on the upper, which combats wrinkles at the toe box and hosts a better lacing system and a new heel sling.
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 5 Dec. 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 1 Feb. 2026.

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