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
Pan’s now running for Congress in part to counteract Kennedy’s anti-vaccine policies at the federal level.
—
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
While the sample size is limited, Republicans have been unable to counteract economic anxieties by appealing to social issues, as Democrats are generally on the wrong side of public opinion and show little sign of moderating.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
If the first of such amendments is implemented, Democrats stand to gain as many as four new congressional seats—a move that, like the one just approved in California, could counteract Republicans’ efforts to redraw districts in their favor in red states.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Including various antioxidant foods, such as Brussels sprouts, in your regular meal rotation can counteract the damaging effects of free radicals.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counteract
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Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2025
While the sample size is limited, Republicans have been unable to counteract economic anxieties by appealing to social issues, as Democrats are generally on the wrong side of public opinion and show little sign of moderating.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
If the first of such amendments is implemented, Democrats stand to gain as many as four new congressional seats—a move that, like the one just approved in California, could counteract Republicans’ efforts to redraw districts in their favor in red states.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Including various antioxidant foods, such as Brussels sprouts, in your regular meal rotation can counteract the damaging effects of free radicals.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 3 Nov. 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 10 Nov. 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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