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counterargument

/ˈkaʊnɾərɑrgjumɪnt/
/ˈkaʊntəɒgjumɪnt/
IPA guide

Other forms: counterarguments

A counterargument is the thoughtful response you give when you disagree with someone's ideas or claims. In criminal court, a defense attorney usually gives a counterargument to the prosecutor's accusations.

A counterargument is really just what it sounds like — an argument that runs counter to someone else's original argument. In this case, counter means "against" or "in response to," from the Latin root contra, "opposite, against, or in return." A true counterargument is well thought out, countering each idea with a set of reasons proving that the opposite is true.

Definitions of counterargument
  1. noun
    an argument offered in opposition to another argument
    synonyms: counterclaim
    see moresee less
    type of:
    argument, statement
    a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true
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