Definition of countervail
transitive verb
1 : to compensate for
3 : to exert force against : counteract
intransitive verb
: to exert force against an opposing and often bad or harmful force or influence
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Recent Examples of countervail from the Web
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The influence of the unions, which used to provide a countervailing force, has waned with their membership and with anti-union legislation.
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In a world where powerful creditors’ fears of inflation — and appetite for higher rates — push the Federal Reserve in a hawkish direction, Cohn’s desire to serve the GOP’s immediate electoral interests could act as a beneficent countervailing force.
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The senators also praised an executive order signed by President Trump in March designed to accelerate the collection of antidumping and countervailing duties.
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The move follows the government’s decision in April to slap countervailing tariffs of up to 24.1 percent on shipments from Canadian companies including West Fraser Timber Co. and Canfor Corp.
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U.S. trade laws = anti-dumping, countervailing duties, global safeguards, and threat to national security (Section 232).
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Anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws: Softwood lumber The fourth major trade action of Trump’s first 100 days involved softwood lumber imports from Canada.
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The center-field fence at Curley measures out to about 330 feet, but in the springtime, countervailing winds kill most home run bids.
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Polls: government should do more Trump’s budget also faces a countervailing shift in public opinion.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'countervail.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of countervail
Middle English countrevailen, from Anglo-French cuntrevaloir, from cuntre- counter- + valoir to be worth, from Latin valēre — more at wield
Learn More about countervail
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See words that rhyme with countervail Britannica English: Translation of countervail for Arabic speakers
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