counterrevolution

noun

coun·​ter·​rev·​o·​lu·​tion ˌkau̇n-tər-ˌre-və-ˈlü-shən 

ˌkau̇n-tə-

1

: a revolution directed toward overthrowing a government or social system established by a previous revolution

2

: a movement to counteract revolutionary trends

counterrevolutionary

ˌkau̇n-tər-ˌre-və-ˈlü-shə-ˌner-ē 

ˌkau̇n-tə-

adjective or noun

Examples of counterrevolution in a Sentence

The leader vowed to stop any attempt at counterrevolution.

Soldiers loyal to the President led the counterrevolution.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Thatcher-Reagan neoliberal counterrevolution combined with reactionary populist anti-intellectualism to seemingly seal the ivory tower’s fate—and to attack universities as bastions of campus revolt and as alternative centers of civil society. —Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 4 Jan. 2025

The phenomenal success of this counterrevolution was due to a simple insight. —Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024

What is still missing from this broad narrative is a full understanding of how this neoliberal counterrevolution succeeded in changing everything. —Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024

But with Iraq battered, Syria in chaos, and a stagnant Egypt being whipsawed by revolution and counterrevolution, the way was clear for an ambitious, headstrong, and ruthless young Saudi prince to stake his country’s claim to Arab leadership. —Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

counterrevolution

noun

coun·​ter·​rev·​o·​lu·​tion ˌkau̇nt-ə(r)-ˌrev-ə-ˈlü-shən 

: a revolution intended to overthrow a government established by an earlier revolution

counterrevolutionary

-ˈlü-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective or noun

counterrevolutionist

-ˈlü-sh(ə-)nəst

noun