countervail

verb

coun·​ter·​vail ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈvāl 

countervailed; countervailing; countervails

transitive verb

1

: to compensate for

2

archaic : equal, match

3

: to exert force against : counteract

intransitive verb

: to exert force against an opposing and often bad or harmful force or influence

Examples of countervail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Davidson said the most influential tariffs affecting the solar industry include Section 201 safeguard tariffs on solar imports, Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper, as well as anti-dumping and countervailing duties on solar components. —Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 24 Feb. 2026

As the march progressed, something odd began to happen between the countervailing messages. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026

These countervailing trends and pressures push companies to the middle, in the direction of speech-preserving but responsive and activist measures. —John Wihbey, Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025

And, in a break with the past, the VDMA is now expressing support for erecting countervailing tariffs when foreign products are found to be made with the support of government subsidies. —Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English countrevailen, from Anglo-French cuntrevaloir, from cuntre- counter- + valoir to be worth, from Latin valēre — more at wield

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for countervail

• abigail
• cottontail
• fingernail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale
• yellowtail