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
Anxiety produces shallow, rapid breathing, and reversing that pattern directly counters the stress response. Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026 Termini counters DraftKings’ assertion that the NCAA’s deal with Genius Sports undermines its position. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 Mar. 2026 Their microbes harvested calories more efficiently, which counters weight gain. Matt Fuchs, Time, 25 Mar. 2026 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
Noun
Firefighters see blocked entry and exit points, counters piled high and no clear routes to leave the home in an emergency. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 7 May 2026 Hydration support has moved well beyond plain water, and electrolyte powders have become a regular part of workout bags, desk drawers and kitchen counters. Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026 Check-in counters and baggage drop areas stood empty. Eva Andersen, CBS News, 3 May 2026 House Speaker Matt Ritter of Hartford – one of the top vote-counters at the Capitol – had predicted 115 to 120 votes in favor of the budget, which passed with 127 votes. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026 Travelers must book through a dedicated webpage — not at airport counters — using their Spirit confirmation details. Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 2 May 2026 Fares are available at Southwest’s ticket counters. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 2 May 2026 Use them to clean toilets, sinks, showers, tubs, counters, and floors. Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 1 May 2026 In the meantime, NCR’s cash registers became a fixture on retail counters all over the world. Alison J. Stein, thehustle.co, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counters
Verb
  • The Moon in Sagittarius opposes Venus in Gemini, pulling you between what feels true and what keeps things easy with others.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
  • By Hadriana Lowenkron and Mark Anderson, Bloomberg The White House opposes a plan by Anthropic PBC to expand access to its Mythos AI model, an administration official said Wednesday night.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Those bulbs spread and multiply by forming little bulblets called offsets, and those grow into larger bulbs.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Through an algebraic analysis of the robots’ parameters, such as the lengths of their links and the offsets of their joints, the team mapped out exactly where the singularities lie within their joint space.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 26 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But beyond that, this conflict has a dramatic, even archetypal, quality to it, pitting polar opposites against each other.
    Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Here opposites — classy and brassy — are distractions, with odd-couple joking substituting for something more substantial.
    Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Even as the county fights to preserve services amid ongoing fiscal struggles, the budget cuts could lead to closures in behavioral health clinics and potential delays to some healthcare.
    Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 2 May 2026
  • Demonizing the opponent is an effective political tactic and each side fights fire with fire.
    Andrew Cuomo, New York Daily News, 2 May 2026
Noun
  • Retirement investing often involves intangible assets that exist as account balances and performance charts, while gold and silver remain tied to physical ownership, industrial use, collecting, and centuries of cultural association around value.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 8 May 2026
  • An email obtained by the Herald shows that in January 2025, high-ranking Hialeah officials, including Lynskey, the city attorney and Bovo’s chief of staff, were in discussions with HSA on how to proceed with water payments, including whether the city should bill HSA for Steward’s overdue balances.
    Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Regular physical activity helps reduce blood pressure, eases arthritic pain, combats chronic illness and lifts your mood.
    Helen Dennis, Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Aeration helps oxygen reach roots and combats the effects of compacting, but making sure your lawn continues to breathe is key to keeping it consistently green.
    Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 17 Apr. 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 10 May. 2026.

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