1
as in equilibrium
a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another
a musical piece with a counterpoise of loud and soft passages
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in offset
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
the happiness brought by a new baby was a timely counterpoise to the grief occasioned by a death in the family
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to offset
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective
her overall healthiness largely counterpoised the virulence of the infection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterpoise
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023
What’s most remarkable about Torruella’s film is its counterpoise between the sense of raging injustice and the island’s mystic stillness.
—Amada Torruella, The New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2023
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023
Conflicts of interest are objective situations that arise when a person’s financial interests can be counterpoised to their public responsibilities.
—Matthew Yglesias, Vox, 29 Nov. 2018
Noun
Molina, the embodiment of theatrical excellence, is perfectly cast as the rational counterpoise to Brady’s zealotry.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023
What’s most remarkable about Torruella’s film is its counterpoise between the sense of raging injustice and the island’s mystic stillness.
—Amada Torruella, The New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2023
Verb
Indeed, the Western, that peculiarly American contribution to the world’s store of epic and saga, often depends on the tale of a defeated Confederate at large to enforce virtue, someone whose heroic individualism is counterpoised with the superficial discipline of the federal troops.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023
Conflicts of interest are objective situations that arise when a person’s financial interests can be counterpoised to their public responsibilities.
—Matthew Yglesias, Vox, 29 Nov. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterpoise
Noun
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With Mars in Libra, there's an undeniable friction as we are called to find equilibrium between attraction and compromise.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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These minerals are electrolytes, which help your cells maintain equilibrium and communicate with one another.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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An Education Department spokesperson told CNBC in an email Tuesday that the department has not offset any Social Security benefits since restarting collections on May 5 and has paused future Social Security offsets.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
13 Aug. 2025
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And even with a partial offset, child care is a huge expense and most companies simply don’t have the margin to subsidize it.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Correction: This story has been updated to correct the total death toll.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
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This leaves taxpayers vulnerable to IRS assessments indefinitely, even after attempting to correct the fraudulent filing.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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These products can cause serious injury or death to young children who are climbing on the counter or crawling through the opening at the back.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
5 Aug. 2025
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But having a lineup of bottles and jars on the counter looks a little untidy.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Bonus: The shade range includes color-correctors to neutralize redness, dullness, or dark circles.—
Allure,
Allure,
8 Aug. 2025
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This approach seeks to neutralize broader market risks while exploiting the relative strengths of DECK and the persistent challenges faced by NKE.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The acidity from the tomatoes and the sweetness from the corn balance the smokiness out nicely, as does the rich queso fresco and fresh cilantro.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
12 Aug. 2025
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Incorporating lateral lunges into your routine targets multiple muscle groups, improving balance and coordination.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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To reduce movement during strong winds, LeMessurier also proposed installing a huge counterweight, known as a tuned mass damper, in the tower’s upper floors.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
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America’s strategy for more than a decade has been to pull India closer into the Western and democratic orbit as a counterweight to its main autocratic rivals and adversaries.—
Andreas Kluth,
Mercury News,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterpoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpoise. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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