counteract
verb
coun·ter·act
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈakt 
counteracted; counteracting; counteracts
: to make ineffective or restrain or neutralize the usually ill effects of by means of an opposite force, action, or influence
a drug used to counteract fatigue
Examples of counteract in a Sentence
The drug will counteract the poison.
this medication will counteract the symptoms but it won't kill the infection
Recent Examples on the Web
Some early research suggests CBD may help counteract certain negative effects of alcohol, such as inflammation and liver toxicity, though more studies are needed.
—
Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Image Lawmakers, mostly powerless to counteract Trump administration policies, have found that targeting Tesla and Mr. Musk can be more effective.
—Benjamin Oreskes, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
And while ventilation systems will protect civilians from radiation, nuclear fallout, or chemical weapons — invisible dangers that simply hiding deep in the London Underground system, say, would fail to counteract — no bunker can withstand a direct hit from a nuclear bomb.
—Jessi Jezewska Stevens, The Dial, 24 Apr. 2025
Pulling movements activate the muscles in your upper and middle back that help counteract the forward-pulling effect of dominant front-body muscles.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counteract
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Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Image Lawmakers, mostly powerless to counteract Trump administration policies, have found that targeting Tesla and Mr. Musk can be more effective.
—Benjamin Oreskes, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
And while ventilation systems will protect civilians from radiation, nuclear fallout, or chemical weapons — invisible dangers that simply hiding deep in the London Underground system, say, would fail to counteract — no bunker can withstand a direct hit from a nuclear bomb.
—Jessi Jezewska Stevens, The Dial, 24 Apr. 2025
Pulling movements activate the muscles in your upper and middle back that help counteract the forward-pulling effect of dominant front-body muscles.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counteract
Cite this Entry
“Counteract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counteract. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
counteract
verb
coun·ter·act
ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈrakt
: to lessen the force, action, or influence of : offset
a drug that counteracts a poison
Medical Definition
counteract
transitive verb
coun·ter·act
ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈrakt
: to make ineffective or restrain or neutralize the usually ill effects of by an opposite force
vitamin K counteracts the effects of warfarin
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