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
The technique, known as acoustic levitation, uses high-frequency sound to counteract gravity and hold matter in place without physical contact.
—
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025
Yet frequent large servings may counteract bone-strengthening nutrients and contribute to long-term bone loss, according to recent reports.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Standing or taking walking breaks is still the most effective way to counteract the cardiovascular strain of sitting too long.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 11 Dec. 2025
All that thinking has only strengthened my conviction that learning to love your face without objectification is a powerful way to counteract the damaging and distressing messages from a beauty culture that prizes youthfulness and hypersexuality.
—Valerie Monroe, Allure, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counteract
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Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025
Yet frequent large servings may counteract bone-strengthening nutrients and contribute to long-term bone loss, according to recent reports.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Standing or taking walking breaks is still the most effective way to counteract the cardiovascular strain of sitting too long.
—Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 11 Dec. 2025
All that thinking has only strengthened my conviction that learning to love your face without objectification is a powerful way to counteract the damaging and distressing messages from a beauty culture that prizes youthfulness and hypersexuality.
—Valerie Monroe, Allure, 10 Dec. 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 16 Dec. 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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