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
At shorter ranges, the ForceShield short-range and very-short-range air defense (SHORAD/VSHORAD) layer counters low-altitude threats such as drones. David Szondy march 12, New Atlas, 12 Mar. 2026 Phronesis counters the illusion that life’s problems have simple, one-size-fits-all solutions. Tim Hulsey, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026 The fact the Patriots could wait until the summer while teams like the Bills, Ravens and Rams seemingly took themselves out of the running this week with other trades is an advantage until Philly counters with the fact Vrabel and Wolf are working with a bottom-10 receiving corps. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026 That single data point directly counters the intuition many biology students and working scientists hold that vertebrate taxonomy is essentially finished. Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026 Iran counters with its own missile attacks on Israel. Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026 Eventually, Angelica says that Audrey wasn’t funny, which Audrey counters by saying that people were laughing, which is pretty good evidence that Angelica is wrong. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2026 Van Noy counters this by layering in live greenery. Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 20 Feb. 2026 Ukraine counters Russia by arguing against giving up territory that Russia hasn't been able to claim during the war. Brittney Melton, NPR, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
The additions range from 10-seat fine-dining counters to casual food stalls. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 Allen won the possession game, but Sam Houston found a groove with counters and seemed to gain momentum as the match continued. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026 The water pushed houses off their foundations, floated cars out of parking spots and left walls, floor and counters covered with thick, reddish volcanic mud. ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026 Sticky barriers or water moats can also prevent ants from reaching common destinations, such as plants and counters, according to the University of Minnesota Extension. Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026 The kitchen features honed Calacatta marble counters and opens to a backyard. The Week Us, TheWeek, 23 Mar. 2026 But about a third of those want to see everything, from the plain-but-clean room lined with cabinets and counters where the deceased are prepared for services, to the massive, gray crematory that looks similar to a metal shipping container. Katie Langford, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026 Still, few people waited at ticket counters or in line at Au Bon Pain, and nobody was waiting to order anything at Starbucks. Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026 Pairing with technology More specialized counters come with compatible software or an app that works on different devices, such as smartphones or computers. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counters
Verb
  • The hospital association opposes the idea of a new Connecticut option.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Mark Strom, a Brea resident who opposes the deal, heartily disagrees.
    Victoria Le, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In some cases, benefit offsets (where the VA withholds part of your monthly benefit to repay a debt) can be adjusted to reduce the financial strain.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
  • And for the environmentally conscious, Avocado is a B-Corp brand that uses renewable energy at their factories and purchases carbon offsets for shipping.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Sparks and bullets fly when these opposites are partnered to track down a billion-dollar cache of deadly opioids stolen from the vault of a multinational pharmaceutical company that threaten to flood the streets of Chicago.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
  • The Broncos and Raiders are, at the moment, football opposites.
    Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Their friendship — sometimes, as sparring partners — led to an iconic faceoff in the 1972 movie Return of the Dragon, in which Lee fights and kills Norris’ character in Rome’s Colosseum.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Spider-Man fights Punisher (Jon Bernthal) and Scorpion (Michael Mando), and other threats seem to be on the horizon.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Dragon Claws/Getty Images Rising credit card balances and climbing delinquency rates have had a big impact on the collections environment recently.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • For those with significant pre-tax balances and a multi-year window of lower income ahead, these years represent a rare opportunity to reposition retirement savings at a meaningful tax discount.
    Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Mix cinnamon with warm water to create a spray that combats fungal issues and discourages pests from returning.
    Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Eight Saints Retinol Facial Moisturizer Cream The Eight Saints Retinol Facial Moisturizer Cream is a fragrance-free, multitasking formula that combats wrinkles, fine lines, and saggy skin.
    Essence Wiley, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • These are all refreshing correctives to the texts that previously stood in for contemporary Japan internationally, including any number of small volumes about magical cafés, bookshops, or libraries, often with cats on their covers.
    Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Counters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counters. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

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