PROTESTS Synonyms: 175 Similar and Opposite Words

protests 1 of 2

noun

plural of protest

as in objections

a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent submitted an official protest about her treatment

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protests

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of protest

as in claims

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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as in objects

to present an opposing opinion or argument plans to protest against the judge's ruling regarding admissible evidence

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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 protests

Noun

In the aftermath, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in what turned out to be Turkey’s largest protests in a dozen years. — Nick Taborall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026 Two years later, Wong became one of the key leaders of the city’s Umbrella Movement protests that rallied thousands of predominantly young people to the streets to call for greater democracy by blocking major thoroughfares for 79 straight days. — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026 Last month, weeks after tens of thousands of students took to the streets of New Delhi demanding education reform, Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally broke his silence on the seven-week protests. — Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026 The debate comes as reports of localized economic protests continue to emerge from inside Iran. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Serbia has experienced its largest wave of student protests and civil unrest in decades since the collapse of a railway station canopy killed 16 people in November 2024. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 In 2012, Wong rose to prominence as a high school student leading protests against the introduction of national education in Hong Kong schools. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 Lines for fuel have sprung up, and officials are discussing reducing costly fuel subsidies – a step that sparked deadly protests in the past. — Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026 Gates said community protests centered on data centers were missing a bigger picture. — Reuters, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026

Verb

Copycat protests sprang up in other major Indian cities—Kolkata, Mumbai and Patna—lending the Gen Z protests the aura of a nationwide youth resistance that would humble Modi and force his education minister to resign. — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026 Protest Passion Project The Climb was first unveiled by Beta Cinema at the European Film Market in February 2022, with Delevingne (Carnival Row) attached as a daredevil climber who protests against oil drilling in the Arctic by ascending The Shard. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 June 2026 Investigators ask for patience after video sparks protests The police department provided the findings of the investigation to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for an independent review of any criminal violations, Fraser said. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 31 May 2026 Woman, Life, Freedom protests The 2020 election of Joe Biden led to tentative efforts to restore the JCPOA, but any progress made was squashed by the 2021 election of hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi as president of Iran. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Mar. 2026 Then that correction gets a correction from Andy, who protests that Lisa was really only a villain her last year of Housewives. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026 The 46-year-old attorney frequently protests at Broadview and also volunteers as a rapid responder, reporting on federal agents’ activities in neighborhoods. — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026 Iran protests spark reaction abroad Videos of demonstrations have stopped coming out of Iran, likely signaling the slowdown of their pace under the heavy security force presence in major cities. — Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026 Walz is asking anyone who protests to do so in a peaceful way. — CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protests

Noun

Bessent's remarks came as Siluanov's first in-person appearance at the summit since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 drew objections from other European leaders.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Recently, Capifali helped guide the Johnson administration through a tiff with aldermen who legalized video gambling terminals over the mayor’s objections.

— Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of objections

Verb

The Grammy winner claims Keren Urinov, who worked on her 2025 tour, demanded a 15-year employment contract.

— Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
The company claims the approach could allow Galileo X to handle precise indoor transport, long-range off-road travel, and complex terrain using a unified robotic architecture and control system.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of claims

Verb

Roberts disagreed with the majority of his colleagues about whether the National Trust for Historic Preservation – which objects to the design of the ballroom – can meet the legal standard for showing it would be sufficiently harmed by the project.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Back then, Pluto was classified as a full planet, but the discovery of 1992 QB-1, as well as Kuiper Belt objects even larger than Pluto found later, raised questions about Pluto's status.

— Tariq Malik, Space.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of objects

Noun

Latinos Aventureros Co-Founder Sandra Salazar said complaints about trash at Wilson Creek since Hurricane Helene created friction in the area.

— Lily Knoepp, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026
In lieu of bigger changes that could reduce noise complaints, many hotels now routinely hand out earplugs and eye masks.

— Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of complaints

Verb

Shelley alleges her superior, Woodie Dixon, Golden State’s chief legal officer, was not present for her termination meeting, violating team policy.

— Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
The lawsuit alleges four families with addresses in Mansfield, Georgia have had irreparable damage to their property and quality of life throughout the construction and operation of the Meta data center.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of alleges

Verb

Changes in Water Pressure Ragsdale’s antenna immediately goes up when a homeowner complains about low water pressure.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026
Shannon basically complains so much that Jenn, a sweet baby angel straight from a Hallmark Christmas movie, offers to change rooms with her.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of complains

Noun

The law includes several exceptions, including certain vehicles, medical devices and other equipment.

— Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026
The rules generally require a residential site to have at least 200 feet of water frontage on Biscayne Bay, with specific exceptions for some existing lots.

— Luisa Yanez Updated September 3, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of exceptions

Verb

Israel insists this is allowed under the latest ceasefire agreement.

— Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
But that sympathy can’t quite make up for the galling fact of Nelson’s sons, now teenagers stuck in limbo as a father figure stubbornly insists on courting further ruin.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of insists

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“Protests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protests. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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