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Word Analysis

counterterrorist

Complete linguistic analysis including syllable division, pronunciation, morphology, and definitions.

5 syllables
16 characters
English (US)
Enriched
5syllables

counterterrorist

Linguistic Analysis

Syllables

coun-ter-ter-ror-ist

Pronunciation

/ˌkaʊn.tɚˈtɛr.ər.ɪst/

Stress

20100

Morphemes

counter- + terror + -ist

'Counterterrorist' is a 5-syllable compound word (coun-ter-ter-ror-ist) formed from prefix 'counter-' + 'terrorist'. Primary stress falls on the third syllable 'ter' (first syllable of 'terrorist'), with secondary stress on 'coun'. IPA: /ˌkaʊn.tɚˈtɛr.ər.ɪst/. It functions as both noun and adjective with identical pronunciation.

Definitions

noun
  1. 1

    A person or agent engaged in activities aimed at preventing or combating terrorism.

    “The counterterrorist neutralized the threat before anyone was harmed.”

    syn:antiterrorist operativecounterterrorism agent
    ant:terrorist
adjective
  1. 1

    Relating to or designed for the prevention or combating of terrorism.

    “The government launched a counterterrorist operation in the region.”

    syn:antiterroristcounterterrorism
    ant:pro-terrorist

Stress pattern

Five syllables: secondary stress on 'coun' (2), unstressed on first 'ter' (0), primary stress on second 'ter' (1), unstressed on 'ror' (0), unstressed on 'ist' (0).

Syllables

5
coun/kaʊn/
ter/tɚ/
ter/tɛr/
ror/ər/
ist/ɪst/

coun — Closed syllable with diphthong /aʊ/ and final nasal /n/; carries secondary stress.. ter — Closed syllable with rhotic schwa; unstressed, final syllable of prefix 'counter'.. ter — Closed syllable; carries primary stress; first syllable of 'terrorist'.. ror — Open syllable with reduced schwa; unstressed.. ist — Closed syllable ending in /st/ cluster; suffix, unstressed.

Word Parts

pre

counter-

Latin via Old French 'contre-'; meaning 'against' or 'in opposition to'; productive English prefix

root

terror

Latin 'terror' meaning 'great fear'; base noun

suf

-ist

Greek/Latin origin '-ista/-istes'; agentive suffix meaning 'one who practices or is concerned with'

Similar Words

coun­ter­at­tackter­ror­istan­ti­ter­ror­ist

Morpheme Boundary Rule

The compound is divided at the morphological boundary between 'counter' and 'terrorist', preserving each morpheme's integrity.

Maximal Onset Principle

Within morphemes, single intervocalic consonants attach to the following syllable (e.g., ter-ror rather than terr-or).

Closed Syllable Rule

Syllables ending in consonants (coun, ter, ter, ist) are closed; this affects vowel quality, particularly the short /ɪ/ in 'ist'.

  • The sequence 'ter-ter' at the morpheme junction may appear unusual but correctly reflects the compound structure.
  • British and American pronunciations differ slightly in rhoticity but not in syllable count or division.
  • The word functions identically as noun or adjective with no change in stress or syllabification.
Analysis by claude · 12/30/2025

Nearby Words

17 words
counterterrorist(current)
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