as in objections
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent
submitted an official protest about her treatment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in claims
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 objects
to present an opposing opinion or argument
plans to protest against the judge's ruling regarding admissible evidence
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 protests
ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
And the questions about why these children are in these deep protests against contemporary life—refusing to go to school, refusing to eat—are inseparable from their inability to imagine a future.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
As the proposal has encountered local political opposition and protests from Beijing, US senators visited Taiwan this week to encourage its legislators to reach an agreement.
—Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
Jafarzadeh said that the campaign is pitched as a patriotic duty, and the mobilization of civilians helps the regime by both replenishing manpower and occupying members of the public that could otherwise be swept up into future protests.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 4 Apr. 2026
In the aftermath of nationwide protests over policing and racial justice in 2020, Boston convened the Police Reform Task Force to examine the policies and practices of the Boston Police Department and recommend reforms to improve transparency, accountability, and community trust.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Rights groups say conditions are worsening Iranian security and judicial officials have warned that any new anti-government protests will be met with lethal force.
—Amir Hussein Radjy, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
There have been thousands more protests across Europe and abroad.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Crowds gathered for protests at dozens of locations across the state, including the Genesee Bridge, Golden, Loveland, Boulder, and the state capitol building in Denver.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Mar. 2026
Then that correction gets a correction from Andy, who protests that Lisa was really only a villain her last year of Housewives.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
The 46-year-old attorney frequently protests at Broadview and also volunteers as a rapid responder, reporting on federal agents’ activities in neighborhoods.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Trevor protests the corridors ahead are filled with guards, motion sensors, and biometric security—but Simon has figured another way out.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
Iran protests spark reaction abroad Videos of demonstrations have stopped coming out of Iran, likely signaling the slowdown of their pace under the heavy security force presence in major cities.
—Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
Iran protests An Iranian protester detained Thursday may be executed today, according to the US State Department and a family member, in a move that would draw further global outrage over Tehran’s deadly crackdown on government dissent.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 14 Jan. 2026
Walz is asking anyone who protests to do so in a peaceful way.
—CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Iran protests over collapsing economy spread to universities Iranian authorities offered conciliatory gestures in a bid to stem growing protests over the country’s collapsing economy.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Noun
His reelection in 2025 sparked widespread protests that left at least four people dead, signaling growing tensions between the mostly young population and its aging leader.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
And the questions about why these children are in these deep protests against contemporary life—refusing to go to school, refusing to eat—are inseparable from their inability to imagine a future.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
As the proposal has encountered local political opposition and protests from Beijing, US senators visited Taiwan this week to encourage its legislators to reach an agreement.
—Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
Jafarzadeh said that the campaign is pitched as a patriotic duty, and the mobilization of civilians helps the regime by both replenishing manpower and occupying members of the public that could otherwise be swept up into future protests.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 4 Apr. 2026
In the aftermath of nationwide protests over policing and racial justice in 2020, Boston convened the Police Reform Task Force to examine the policies and practices of the Boston Police Department and recommend reforms to improve transparency, accountability, and community trust.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Rights groups say conditions are worsening Iranian security and judicial officials have warned that any new anti-government protests will be met with lethal force.
—Amir Hussein Radjy, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
There have been thousands more protests across Europe and abroad.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Crowds gathered for protests at dozens of locations across the state, including the Genesee Bridge, Golden, Loveland, Boulder, and the state capitol building in Denver.
—Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
Woman, Life, Freedom protests The 2020 election of Joe Biden led to tentative efforts to restore the JCPOA, but any progress made was squashed by the 2021 election of hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi as president of Iran.
—Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Mar. 2026
Then that correction gets a correction from Andy, who protests that Lisa was really only a villain her last year of Housewives.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
The 46-year-old attorney frequently protests at Broadview and also volunteers as a rapid responder, reporting on federal agents’ activities in neighborhoods.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Trevor protests the corridors ahead are filled with guards, motion sensors, and biometric security—but Simon has figured another way out.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
Iran protests spark reaction abroad Videos of demonstrations have stopped coming out of Iran, likely signaling the slowdown of their pace under the heavy security force presence in major cities.
—Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
Iran protests An Iranian protester detained Thursday may be executed today, according to the US State Department and a family member, in a move that would draw further global outrage over Tehran’s deadly crackdown on government dissent.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 14 Jan. 2026
Walz is asking anyone who protests to do so in a peaceful way.
—CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
Iran protests over collapsing economy spread to universities Iranian authorities offered conciliatory gestures in a bid to stem growing protests over the country’s collapsing economy.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protests
Noun
-
Vulnerable, voiceless elders in Miami-Dade who are removed from their homes for their own good will likely wind up in the hands of an Adult Protective Services supervisor promoted to a position of unparalleled power despite the objections of family members and whistleblowing colleagues.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
More importantly, these objections assume a permanent ideological shift.—
Ravi Kumar S,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The singer-songwriter claims the idea came from somebody at Island Records, his current major-label home after a first act filled with indies.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Pitchfork,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In addition to Sissy, the group’s reunion is attended by, among others, Mona (Dennis), who claims to have a son fathered by Dean and the mysterious Joanne (Black), who has a secret of her own to share.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The space station circles our planet at an altitude referred to as low-Earth orbit, which is closer to Earth's atmosphere and allows the outpost to move more quickly around Earth than objects further out in space.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Congress is on a two-week recess, but the Senate and House could move to fund all of DHS except ICE and CBP as early as Thursday using a procedure known as unanimous consent that allows the chambers to circumvent formal voting as long as no member objects.—
Sam Gringlas,
NPR,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Despite numerous complaints to health inspectors from elderly people that Salmos 23 left them wanting the most basic necessities — like toilet paper — DCF chose it as a refuge over hundreds of other homes.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Deed theft is essentially when someone steals a house, often forging the paperwork, and data obtained by CBS News New York shows a 240% increase in complaints to the New York Attorney General's Office from 2023 to 2025.—
Tim McNicholas,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Another alleges that a Washington state medical board policy on Covid misinformation is a violation of doctors’ free speech.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The teen then steered his minivan slightly to the right, away from Andrade’s vehicle, in an effort to get around, the indictment alleges.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Out of innumerable likely topics, Maher complains about folks who defend cats.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
At one point in the documentary, Suga, one of the group’s rappers, complains that there is too much English on the album.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But outside of these rare exceptions, Mario’s pugilism was quickly retired in lieu of hammer hits and kid-friendly blows.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The Big Bill also added new deductions for tip income, overtime earnings and auto-loan interest, with limits and exceptions, of course.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Curator argues for replacing—or at least displaying both—while The Boss, beholden to donors and a governing board, insists Old Art stays and New Art must go.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Ulbrich insists he was always convinced that those predictions were wrong.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protests. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
