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

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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

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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
This is likely the first high profile arrest of a legal permanent resident in connection with the pro-Palestinian protests that rippled across the nation's campuses last year. — Destinee Adams, NPR, 13 Mar. 2025 These can cause massive humanitarian effects such as loss of property, loss of life, protests, riots, population migration, and even government collapse. — Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
Hundreds of Jewish New Yorkers are currently protesting in the lobby of Trump Tower calling for the immediate release of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil. — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 13 Mar. 2025 On Sunday, dozens of people, including the woman who posted the video, protested the arrest during a demonstration organized by the Indianapolis chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation near the site of the incident. — Russell Contreras, Axios, 12 Mar. 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
  • The Missouri Senate on Monday easily approved a state takeover plan for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department over the objections of the city's mayor and local senators.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Many Israelis see Gazan emigration as a good idea but not practical There has been little vocal objection from prominent opposition politicians in Israel.
    — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of objection
Verb
  • Considering the low traction conditions that saw several F1 cars struggle even at low speeds, Croft and Brundle insisted that the race should have been red-flagged until the track was clear to race again.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Hearn insisted Matchroom held up their end of the bargain and stayed true to the contract.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of insist
Verb
  • When its inspector general objected to Trump’s efforts to kill it, Trump fired him, too.
    — Varad Mehta, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The discovery could also challenge our understanding of how Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) form.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of object
Noun
  • Carpenter said complaints could have already fallen off the calendar because of the delay in hiring a director.
    — Destiny Torres, Orange County Register, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Their legal complaints argue that patients were misled about the accuracy and utility of PGT-A, cheating them out of time, money, and even dreams of having families, since some people have discarded embryos based on the test results.
    — Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of complaint
Verb
  • There has been speculation over the contents of the files since an FOI request was brought by conservative US think-tank the Heritage Foundation, which alleged that Harry may have concealed past drug use that should have disqualified him from obtaining a visa.
    — Caroline Frost, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Authorities allege that Steven Gress, 35, used the online dating app Grindr to lure Corsette to his house, located approximately 20 miles southwest of Tampa, on Feb. 14.
    — Julia Bonavita, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of allege
Verb
  • Fix Problems Many of us like to complain about broken systems, inefficient processes, or other things that annoy us at work.
    — Joseph Liu, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Biden complained when the courts blocked his efforts to forgive student loan debt.
    — Graham Underwood, arkansasonline.com, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of complain
Noun
  • But each time the tariffs were slated to take effect, calls with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum kept the tariffs at bay — or provided exceptions for crucial cross-border industries, such as a one-month delay on tariffs for auto manufacturers.
    — Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The main exception in the worldwide data is Israel, which has higher-than-average birth rates and has been subsidizing IVF since the early 1980s.
    — Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of exception
Verb
  • If the lawsuit isn’t dismissed, CBS claims that it should be moved to federal court in New York.
    — Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Throughout the investigation, Picerno claimed Willis knew nothing about the men’s deaths.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of claim

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Cite this Entry

“Protest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protest. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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