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
Its contours were nearly identical to this year’s: misconduct by a conservative President, months of mass protests, impeachment, removal, criminal prosecution, and the election of a liberal replacement—Moon Jae-in, who, like Lee, had been a human-rights lawyer. —E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 4 June 2025 The humble statement was met with loud protests from all of his onstage colleagues, as well as Armisen. —Jillian Sederholm, EW.com, 4 June 2025
Verb
Mass emigration since 2021 has drained the island of young people — the ones most likely to protest. —Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025 Botafogo players instantly protested, the goal was disallowed and Neymar was booked. —Ali Rampling, New York Times, 2 June 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
  • Several Republicans have already expressed objections to the legislation as approved by the House.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 June 2025
  • Maryland parents fight for right to opt kids out of LGBTQ+ school materials The school case surrounds parents’ objections in Maryland to books with LGBTQ+ characters that Montgomery County Public Schools, which is based in the Washington metro area, added to its curriculum in 2022.
    — BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 3 June 2025
Definition of objection
Verb
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted that Ukraine is doing everything possible to ensure the release of prisoners and the return of the soldiers’ bodies.
    — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 8 June 2025
  • Johnson insisted that Musk has bad information, and the speaker disputed the forecasts of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office that scores budget legislation.
    — Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
Definition of insist
Verb
  • When the justice objected, saying that the extradition had already been approved, Castro allegedly ordered him to reverse it.
    — T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 June 2025
  • Environmentalists will object, but freedom is not always pollution-free.
    — The Editors, National Review, 12 June 2025
Definition of object
Noun
  • That’s the first time taxes have topped the list of complaints since December 2020.
    — Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • The complaint argues that CAA’s trade secrets are essential to making the company — and the industry — run.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 10 June 2025
Definition of complaint
Verb
  • The passenger alleged that McRoy continued to take more marijuana dabs.
    — Staff report, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2025
  • By failing to meet and confer with the union over the impact of a return-to-office order on supervisors and managers in early March, Newsom violated state labor law, the union alleges.
    — William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2025
Definition of allege
Verb
  • Patterson complained about her in-laws behind their backs Erin and Simon Patterson got married in 2007 and, after splitting and reconciling multiple times over the years, separated permanently in 2015.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 7 June 2025
  • Occasionally, drivers call the CHP to complain — especially during rush hour.
    — Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 7 June 2025
Definition of complain
Noun
  • There are exceptions, but there’s just no comparison.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Residents aged 18 or older are permitted to own a firearm, with some exceptions allowing 16-year-olds to acquire guns for hunting purposes.
    — Solcyré Burga, Time, 10 June 2025
Definition of exception
Verb
  • Snaking between trees or buildings may cause the drone to crash – the post cites examples where riders claim to have survived this way.
    — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Sneed, the key witness for the prosecution, claimed Glossip paid him $10,000 to kill Van Treese.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 9 June 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 18 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of protest for Spanish Speakers

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