as in complaining
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in alleging
to state as a fact usually forcefully
he protested that he usually was very good at baseball, and all the strikeouts were just bad luck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in objecting
to present an opposing opinion or argument
plans to protest against the judge's ruling regarding admissible evidence
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of protesting
The Hill, 17 Jan. 2026
Among the dead were 13 children and 14 non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.
—ABC News, 15 Jan. 2026
Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Before the earnings numbers were released, about 30 demonstrators gathered in front of Sempra’s corporate headquarters in downtown San Diego, protesting how much SDG&E has made over the years.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
High school students who helped organize the walkout blasted Immigration and Customs Enforcement for killing two American citizens protesting ICE operations in Minneapolis last month.
—Kendall Staton, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Why people are protesting in Concord The protests are organized by Indivisible Cabarrus County, a progressive grassroots organization.
—Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
Hammond said that, if true, those people were not being violent and simply protesting verbally, putting them in the WRAP could be improper use.
—Jason Dearen and Jim Mustian The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Feb. 2026
Omwamba, who was identified by three Kenyan recruits who spoke to The Associated Press, had gone missing after families started protesting the disappearances and deaths of their relatives in the war in Ukraine.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
The family of Fahimeh Ajam, 29, who was killed while protesting in Azadshahr in the northeastern Golestan province, also described threats from officials, religious leaders and security forces pressing them to blame her death on terrorists rather than state forces.
—Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
On April 27, Danish Foreign Minister Erik Scavenius, claiming to act on instructions from the Danish king, issued a formal note to Hull protesting Kauffmann’s actions.
—Timothy W. Ryback, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The death toll includes at least 19 children, 21 non-protesting civilians, and 165 in government or security forces.
—The Hill, 17 Jan. 2026
Among the dead were 13 children and 14 non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.
—ABC News, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
In 2006, more than 1,000 teenagers in Aurora walked out of their classrooms, protesting legislation aimed at tightening the United States’ borders and punishing undocumented immigrants and those who help them.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Before the earnings numbers were released, about 30 demonstrators gathered in front of Sempra’s corporate headquarters in downtown San Diego, protesting how much SDG&E has made over the years.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
High school students who helped organize the walkout blasted Immigration and Customs Enforcement for killing two American citizens protesting ICE operations in Minneapolis last month.
—Kendall Staton, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Why people are protesting in Concord The protests are organized by Indivisible Cabarrus County, a progressive grassroots organization.
—Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
Hammond said that, if true, those people were not being violent and simply protesting verbally, putting them in the WRAP could be improper use.
—Jason Dearen and Jim Mustian The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 26 Feb. 2026
Omwamba, who was identified by three Kenyan recruits who spoke to The Associated Press, had gone missing after families started protesting the disappearances and deaths of their relatives in the war in Ukraine.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
The family of Fahimeh Ajam, 29, who was killed while protesting in Azadshahr in the northeastern Golestan province, also described threats from officials, religious leaders and security forces pressing them to blame her death on terrorists rather than state forces.
—Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
On April 27, Danish Foreign Minister Erik Scavenius, claiming to act on instructions from the Danish king, issued a formal note to Hull protesting Kauffmann’s actions.
—Timothy W. Ryback, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protesting
Adjective
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An energy vampire has bad body language, the complaining look on their face, the vocal complainer.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Emails alleging violations started arriving to City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos before the semifinals.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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Hartsuch appealed, but in October 2025, the Iowa Court of Appeals upheld the district court’s ruling, setting the stage for Hartsuch’s newest lawsuit alleging the board’s actions were unreasonable, violated his rights and destroyed his livelihood.—
Clark Kauffman,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Beyond the mass street demonstrations in Minneapolis, people in communities from New York to California are objecting to longstanding contracts between ICE and local governments for services ranging from the use of training facilities to parking spaces.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
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But the players stopped short of voting for Meyer, with at least three player reps objecting, according to a person informed about the call.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But there’s also a debate swirling around the best time of day to shower, with people on both sides insisting that their timing is ideal.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
26 Feb. 2026
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While insisting its program is peaceful, Iranian officials have threatened to pursue the bomb in recent years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The President posted a video on Truth Social Saturday morning claiming that negotiations to curb Iran’s nuclear capabilities and avoid war had fallen through, which led the nations to engage.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
28 Feb. 2026
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Others, including critics of Kennedy, pointed out the Lancet is the same journal that once published the infamous — and discredited paper — by Andrew Wakefield claiming a link between vaccines and autism.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sarandos has been on a promotional tour over the past week or two, including at last Sunday’s BAFTA Film Awards red carpet, asserting his view that his company is better-positioned than Paramount.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
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Actors who look more of the moment are Ayo Edebiri, Teyana Taylor and Jennifer Lawrence – who see dressing for a film premiere or awards show less about creating an outrageous look, and more about asserting their artistry and originality.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In last night’s speech, the President was only interested in declaring victory.—
Austin Elias-de Jesus,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
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At the time, Lunday, then the Coast Guard’s acting commandant, responded by declaring those symbols prohibited, though the language somehow still found its way into a new workplace harassment manual.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protesting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protesting. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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