as in to offset
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective
this medication will counteract the symptoms but it won't kill the infection
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Recent Examples of counteract
It could be counteracted by a weaker employment number, given a slowing economy generally coincides with falling yields as investors seek out safety (bond yields move inversely to prices).
—
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
The sharp rise in the Urals price will help counteract any disruption to Moscow’s oil exports from attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, usually claimed by Ukraine.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Genes to counteract iron deficiency increased because seawater has just 1 percent the iron of fresh water or soil.
—David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
History and development Naltrexone is a semisynthetic heteropentacyclic compound developed in the mid-20th century during efforts to create medications capable of counteracting the effects of opioid substances.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counteract
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
The sharp rise in the Urals price will help counteract any disruption to Moscow’s oil exports from attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, usually claimed by Ukraine.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Genes to counteract iron deficiency increased because seawater has just 1 percent the iron of fresh water or soil.
—David George Haskell, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
History and development Naltrexone is a semisynthetic heteropentacyclic compound developed in the mid-20th century during efforts to create medications capable of counteracting the effects of opioid substances.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counteract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counteract
Verb
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Airlines like United and JetBlue are raising bag fees in an effort to offset sky-high jet fuel costs.—
Brian Cheung,
NBC news,
4 Apr. 2026
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For renters or families with limited outdoor space, container gardening in partial shade is one of the most accessible ways to start offsetting produce costs.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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By contrast, a mobile, autonomous interceptor can dynamically pursue and neutralize targets at close range, offering both flexibility and scalability.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
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But Cronin’s essentially saying Michigan is one of the few teams built to neutralize that formula.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The full inspections show how each establishment has corrected or is working to correct any remaining violations.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
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Violations were corrected later, records show.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counteract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counteract. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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