French Conversation · Level 123
59 words
French word
contrer
Pronunciation
IPA/kɔ̃tʁe/
Meaning
- verbrebut
Example
Je contre son argument avec des preuves simples.
I rebut his argument with simple evidence.
More examples
Elle a réussi à contrer l'objection de son collègue.
She managed to counter her colleague's objection.
Core concept
A claim or attack meets a direct response that takes away its force.
Common phrases
contrer un argument
counter an argument
contrer une objection
counter an objection
contrer l'opposition
counter the opposition
Similar words
contredire: Directly contradict what someone has said.
contester: Challenge a claim or fact as untrue.
répliquer: Briefly respond to someone's words with a counterargument.
réfuter: Demonstrate an argument is wrong through evidence or reasoning.
Definition in French
S'opposer à une action, une idée ou une attaque en répondant directement afin d'en réduire l'effet.
Word origin
The verb contrer was formed from French contre, ultimately from Latin contra, meaning "against", with the French verbal ending -er.
Usage tips
- Contrer normally takes a direct object, as in contrer un argument or contrer une attaque, without a preposition.