counteract

1 of 2

verb

coun·​ter·​act ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈakt 

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

ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈak-shən 

noun

counteractive

ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈak-tiv 

adjective

counteraction

2 of 2

noun

coun·​ter·​ac·​tion ¦kau̇n-tər-¦ak-shən 

plural -s

1

: contrary action : opposition, resistance

scheming counteraction

2

: act or action of counteracting : a counteracting agency

the counteraction of centripetal forces on centrifugal tendencies

Synonyms of counteract

Verb

• offset
• neutralize
• correct

Examples of counteract in a Sentence

Verb

The drug will counteract the poison.

this medication will counteract the symptoms but it won't kill the infection

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

While the billionaire tax held a slim majority, so did two other measures on the ballot that would each, if passed, counteract the tax. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Unlike other low-orbit satellites, Swift does not have a propulsion system that can counteract the pull of the Earth orbit. — Sara Hashemi, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 2026

On April 3, the AP released the raw footage of the incident to counteract her claims. — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026

The Correct the Map campaign, endorsed by the African Union, advocates for this map projection to help counteract misperceptions fed by projections like the Mercator map. — Jewel Bright, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1655, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counteract

• artefact
• artifact
• inexact
• interact
• noncontact
• reenact
• subcontract
• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract

Kids Definition

counteract

verb

coun·​ter·​act ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈrakt 

: to lessen the force, action, or influence of : offset

a drug that counteracts a poison

counteraction

-ˈrak-shən 

noun

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

counteraction

-ˈrak-shən 

noun