as in offset
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
charitable giving is usually a good counterbalance to the self-indulgent commercialism of the Christmas season
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to offset
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective
a hearty dinner might counterbalance missing lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterbalance
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026
This may be because coffee contains other compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may counterbalance caffeine’s downsides over time.
—Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2026
David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Experts generally anticipate a modest decline in mortgage rates this month, even as market forces counterbalance each other.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterbalance
Noun
That gives it notes of black pepper and baking spices like cinnamon, creeping into the fruit-forward palate to provide a counterbalance to the whiskey’s inherent sweetness.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026
This may be because coffee contains other compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may counterbalance caffeine’s downsides over time.
—Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
That uncertainty and rise in unemployment tends to fuel a near-term dip in demand for goods, which counterbalances the price increases from tariffs.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Experts generally anticipate a modest decline in mortgage rates this month, even as market forces counterbalance each other.
—Aly J Yale, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterbalance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterbalance
Noun
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However, even with increasing emissions, the largest companies should be able to afford enough renewable energy and offsets to meet carbon-neutral goals.—
Tammy Webber,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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However, even with increasing emissions, the largest companies should be able to afford enough renewable energy and offsets to meet carbon-neutral goals.—
Tammy Webber,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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By amalgamating these museological devices into the artwork, Aram directly upsets the threefold impulse to pierce form with meaning, to arrest color with identity, and to neutralize bodies with limits.—
Julian Stern,
Artforum,
24 Mar. 2026
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Helicopters and advanced sonar were used to find and neutralize simulated underwater targets.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Another admitted to brushing crumbs into the gap between the stove and counter as a child—only to be caught and made to pull the appliance out and deep-clean the entire area.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Shadow boxes are sometimes displayed on a counter or table due to the challenge of hanging the extra depth on a wall.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Patent law is supposed to correct this.—
Ugo Troiano,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
-
This story has been updated to correct that Cofer is self-employed.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Even Cillizza still leans Republican on balance.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
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About 111 million Americans, or more than 40% of adults and half of credit cardholders, cannot afford to pay off their balances and carry more than $1 trillion in credit card debt from month to month, according to an analysis by Protect Borrowers and The Century Foundation.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In December, Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland — motivated by the territory’s strategic position along the Red Sea as a potential counterweight to Iran and the Houthis, and framed by Netanyahu as being in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
20 Mar. 2026
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Xi’s unwillingness or inability to intervene in events so far from home seems to be harming China’s reputation as a geopolitical counterweight to the United States.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counterbalance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterbalance. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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