protest 1 of 2

noun

ˈprō-ˌtest How to pronounce protest (audio)
Definition of protestnext
as in objection
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent submitted an official protest about her treatment

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

protest

2 of 2

verb

prə-ˈtest How to pronounce protest (audio)
1
as in to insist
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 to object
to present an opposing opinion or argument plans to protest against the judge's ruling regarding admissible evidence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word protest distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of protest are affirm, assert, avow, and declare. While all these words mean "to state positively usually in anticipation of denial or objection," protest emphasizes affirming in the face of denial or doubt.

protested that he really had been misquoted

When can affirm be used instead of protest?

The synonyms affirm and protest are sometimes interchangeable, but affirm implies conviction based on evidence, experience, or faith.

affirmed the existence of an afterlife

When would assert be a good substitute for protest?

While in some cases nearly identical to protest, assert implies stating confidently without need for proof or regard for evidence.

asserted that modern music is just noise

When is avow a more appropriate choice than protest?

The words avow and protest can be used in similar contexts, but avow stresses frank declaration and acknowledgment of personal responsibility for what is declared.

avowed that all investors would be repaid in full

When is it sensible to use declare instead of protest?

Although the words declare and protest have much in common, declare stresses open or public statement.

declared her support for the candidate

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 protest
Noun
The White House said protests will not deter the Trump administration's efforts. —Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025 International protests occurred in cities including London, Paris, and Stockholm. —Rebecca Schneid, Time, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
Joni Auden Land/OPB Thousands of people participated in the Hands Off! demonstrations across the U.S. on Saturday to protest President Trump and Elon Musk's actions. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 7 Apr. 2025 Thousands protest Trump in rallies across South Florida | Photos 'Everything is being destroyed': Thousands protest Trump in rallies across South Florida | Photos Florida homeowners turn to this insurance strategy to save money. —Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for protest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protest
  1. objection
  2. insist
  3. object
  4. complaint
  5. allege
  6. complain
  7. exception
  8. claim
Noun
  • That decision came over the objections of Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's three liberal justices.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Kansas Action for Children, a nonpartisan child advocacy group, has also voiced objection to the amendment Williams added to the bill enshrining religious freedom exemptions to immunization requirements for daycares.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of objection
Verb
  • The government insisted there was no evidence that the AP had been harmed irreparably.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Public officials who insisted such efforts were impossible, in an instant, demonstrated that a cleaner, safer city was always within reach.
    — Carson Becker, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of insist
Verb
  • Smith’s concerns were echoed by four people who objected to Barreto at the committee hearing.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
  • European users can object to data processing for AI training through account settings thanks to GDPR protections, and anyone with an X account can opt out of future model training by going to Privacy & Safety > Data sharing and Personalization > Grok, and unchecking the training option.
    — Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of object
Noun
  • Historian Heather Cox Richardson, in her regular post for March 30, notes a similar procession of this complaint.
    — Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The complaint was filed to address these issues and their valid trademark.
    — Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of complaint
Verb
  • The administration has sent more than 200 Venezuelans to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, alleging that the migrants have gang ties, claims that families and attorneys of some of those deported have strongly denied.
    — Daniella Silva, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Milton's conviction came after a short seller called Hindenburg Research alleged in 2020 that the EV maker had misrepresented its technology.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of allege
Verb
  • Pundits complained last year’s Cannes was a light affair, but that had to do with the bottleneck created by the strikes, for one.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The new plan arrives after many existing Claude subscribers complained of hitting rate limits frequently.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of complain
Noun
  • Rather than being an exception, this is a relatively standard expectation in tech startups.
    — Abdo Riani, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The exception to this rule is reblooming varieties such as Endless Summer® and 'White Wedding', which bloom on both old and new growth.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of exception
Verb
  • Müller’s central argument has been that populism should primarily be defined as a movement in which a leader claims to represent a silenced or forgotten—and almost always exclusionary—majority.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The growth trajectory represents a 2.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025, with online video claiming the lion’s share at $9.4 billion.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of claim

Browse Nearby Words

protégés
protest
protestation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Protest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protest. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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