protestation
/ˌprɒtɪˈsteɪʃ(ə)n
/noun
1An emphatic declaration in response to doubt or accusation: her protestations of innocence were in vain [mass noun]: no amount of protestation made any difference...
- Despite its protestations to the contrary, the Second Circuit must have doubted whether we are really at war.
- They continue to claim, despite UEFA's protestations to the contrary, that their pitch will soon be unsuitable for European competition.
- Instead, we must listen to protestations of innocence and some nonsense suggesting that his sample had been sabotaged, and they know who did it.
Synonyms
declaration, announcement, statement, profession, assertion, insistence, claim, affirmation, assurance, attestation, oath, vow, pledge, avowal
rare maintenance, asseveration
2An objection or protest: he was warned by the referee for his loud protestations...
- The loud protestations of those who are fuming at the school board makes you wonder who they think the victims of this whole thing are?
- The stronger the pull of integration, the louder the protestations against it.
- Despite our protestations and grumblings, most Jakartans despair in silence without ever making their grievances heard.
Synonyms
objection, protest, statement of opposition, exception, complaint, disapproval, opposition, challenge, dissent, demurral, remonstration, fuss, outcry;
railing, inveighing, fulmination
informal stink
Origin
Middle English: from Old French, from late Latin protestatio(n-), from protestari 'to protest' (see protest).