counterbalances; counterbalanced; counterbalancing
formal
: to have an effect that is opposite but equal to (something) : to balance (something) by being opposite
Improved services for phone customers have been counterbalanced [=offset] by higher fees.
The author's wry humor counterbalances the book's serious subject matter.
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“Counterbalance.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/counterbalance. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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