counterprotest

noun

coun·​ter·​pro·​test ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌprō-ˌtest How to pronounce counterprotest (audio)
variants or counter-protest
plural counterprotests or counter-protests
: a protest staged to counter or oppose another protest
A rally … got heated Saturday afternoon. Police stepped in to help de-escalate tensions after a counterprotest emerged …Colleen MacDonald
counterprotester noun
or counter-protester
plural counterprotesters or counter-protesters
Standing near the back of the crowd at yesterday's rally were about a dozen counterprotesters Sue Young Wilson
Nazis may still march, but they are inevitably outnumbered by counter-protesters. Ellis Cose

Examples of counterprotest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Some people appeared to buy tickets as a counterprotest. Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025 Bass, in the Fox 11 interview, also questioned why the university allowed the counterprotest to take place next to the pro-Palestinian encampment, which had been largely peaceful until then. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024 There have been allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia in protests and counterprotests. Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025 Shirt claiming 'censorship' also banned Protests and counterprotests outside the school followed as the controversy grew. Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for counterprotest

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterprotest was in 1595

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Cite this Entry

“Counterprotest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterprotest. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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