counteract

verb

coun·​ter·​act ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈakt How to pronounce counteract (audio)
counteracted; counteracting; counteracts

transitive verb

: 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
counteraction noun
counteractive adjective

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 legislation is an effort to counteract skyrocketing housing prices and, in the Seattle area, one of the nation’s highest rates of homelessness, as well as a critical housing shortage. Hallie Golden, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2024 The goal, Ganley said, is to counteract the toll these take on their mental, physical and emotional health. Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024 But the uproar over the Mother’s Day photo shows that this strategy comes with its own risks, not least that a family portrait has added to the very misinformation about her that it was calculated to counteract. Mark Landler, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Old-school toners were meant to balance skin pH and counteract alkaline soaps, before soap-free cleansers became popular. Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2024 As the spinner turns, the swivel will counteract the rotation and stop twist from traveling up your line. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 7 Mar. 2024 The small space doesn’t allow for a retractable roof, but the A’s are hoping to counteract that with the large window facing the strip beyond the outfield. Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 This helps individuals contextualize their vulnerability within the broader human condition and counteract the sense of shame or separateness often associated with the beautiful mess effect. Mark Travers, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The findings mark a major setback for New York City, where expanded government aid during the coronavirus pandemic had helped to counteract job losses, rising rents and high inflation. Stefanos Chen, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'counteract.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counteract was in 1655

Dictionary Entries Near counteract

Cite this Entry

“Counteract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counteract. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

counteract

verb
coun·​ter·​act ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈrakt How to pronounce counteract (audio)
: to lessen the force, action, or influence of : offset
a drug that counteracts a poison
counteraction noun

Medical Definition

counteract

transitive verb
coun·​ter·​act ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈrakt How to pronounce counteract (audio)
: to make ineffective or restrain or neutralize the usually ill effects of by an opposite force
vitamin K counteracts the effects of warfarin
counteraction noun

More from Merriam-Webster on counteract

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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