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
There is no simple, fast way to counteract caffeine.
—
Carley Millhone, Health, 4 Oct. 2025
But if your breathing is shallow and mostly in your upper chest, your shoulders elevate with every breath, creating compensatory tension in your neck muscles that counteract the function of the scapular stabilizing muscles.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
The writer became inspired to counteract his complicity in a corrupt system.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2025
The measure, typically announced each October, adjusts the benefits Social Security recipients earn to counteract the effects of inflation.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counteract
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Carley Millhone, Health, 4 Oct. 2025
But if your breathing is shallow and mostly in your upper chest, your shoulders elevate with every breath, creating compensatory tension in your neck muscles that counteract the function of the scapular stabilizing muscles.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
The writer became inspired to counteract his complicity in a corrupt system.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2025
The measure, typically announced each October, adjusts the benefits Social Security recipients earn to counteract the effects of inflation.
—Solcyré Burga, Time, 1 Oct. 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 9 Oct. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share