counterweight

noun

coun·​ter·​weight ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌwāt 

: an equivalent weight or force : counterbalance

counterweight transitive verb

Synonyms of counterweight

• offset
• counter
• balance
• counterbalance
• corrective

Examples of counterweight in a Sentence

The crane has a heavy counterweight on the back.

hard work can often be a counterweight to modest intelligence

Recent Examples on the Web

And his status as a player returning from injury will act as a counterweight to the pressure of being defending champion. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Back to the turntable portion, an Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge is pre-mounted to a carbon fiber tonearm with an adjustable counterweight. — Brad Moon, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

In other words, emotion, empathy and irrationality could be seen as some of the most powerful counterweights to AI. — Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

Ornelas and some of her colleagues have recently created the Health and Power Organizing Project, a coalition of academics and advocates to provide a counterweight to political headwinds. — Anil Oza, STAT, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1693, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counterweight

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

counterweight

noun

coun·​ter·​weight ˈkau̇nt-ər-ˌwāt 

: counterbalance entry 1 sense 1