Meaning & use
counterargument
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Meaning
nouncountable
A reason or set of reasons offered to oppose a claim or to show that another argument is weaker than it seems.
Grammar: It has a plural: several counterarguments. It is often followed by to or against: a counterargument to this view.
Patterns
- a counterargument to something
- a counterargument against something
- offer a counterargument
Her essay ends with a strong counterargument to the idea that homework helps young children.
The lawyer prepared a counterargument for every point the other side might raise.
One obvious counterargument is that the plan would cost far too much.
Word forms
| plural | counterarguments |
|---|
Common combinations
- raise a counterargument
- A student raised a counterargument that nobody had considered.
- present a counterargument
- Good writers present a counterargument and then answer it.
- a strong counterargument
- The data provide a strong counterargument to the theory.
- anticipate a counterargument
- He tried to anticipate every counterargument before the debate.
- a counterargument to
- Her reply was a calm counterargument to his accusations.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rebuttal
- This is the reply you make to an argument, whereas a counterargument can be raised even before anyone has argued for the point.
- objection
- This can be a short complaint or doubt, while a counterargument is a developed line of reasoning.
- rejoinder
- This is a quick, often witty reply in conversation and is more formal in tone than counterargument.
- counterclaim
- This is a claim made in opposition, often in law, while a counterargument is the reasoning against a position.
Opposites
Word family
- argument noun
- a reason or reasons given to support a view
- argue verb
- to give reasons for or against something
- counter verb
- to answer or oppose something
- argumentative adjective
- fond of arguing
Commonly confused: counterargument or argument?
counterargument vs argument
An argument can support any position, while a counterargument specifically opposes a position already put forward.
Practice
A good essay does not ignore the other side; it states a ____ and then explains why it is weaker.
Choose one answer.
A counterargument is a reason that opposes a claim. A countermeasure is an action taken against a problem, so it does not fit an essay about reasons.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “counterargument”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.