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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counteract
Some sunscreens only exacerbate existing redness and inflammation, but EltaMD’s is not only sensitive skin-friendly, but the green tint counteracts any naturally-occurring redness in the skin.
—
Gina Vaynshteyn,
StyleCaster,
23 June 2026
For example, their potassium content helps regulate blood pressure and counteracts the effects of sodium, thereby relaxing blood vessel walls, says Matthew Landry, PhD, RDN, DipACLM, FAND, FAHA, assistant professor of population health and disease prevention at the University of California, Irvine.
—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
19 June 2026
Slovakia, like many other European countries, increased state spending to counteract the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war against Ukraine, which caused energy prices to spike.
—
ABC News,
18 June 2026
When brands lose control of their voice thanks to a lack of guardrails, the impacts are quiet, gradual and difficult to counteract.
—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for counteract
Gina Vaynshteyn,
StyleCaster,
23 June 2026
For example, their potassium content helps regulate blood pressure and counteracts the effects of sodium, thereby relaxing blood vessel walls, says Matthew Landry, PhD, RDN, DipACLM, FAND, FAHA, assistant professor of population health and disease prevention at the University of California, Irvine.
—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
19 June 2026
Slovakia, like many other European countries, increased state spending to counteract the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war against Ukraine, which caused energy prices to spike.
—
ABC News,
18 June 2026
When brands lose control of their voice thanks to a lack of guardrails, the impacts are quiet, gradual and difficult to counteract.
—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for counteract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counteract
Verb
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One of the options presented must be placing a premium on companies with at least 250 employees, who don’t offer health coverage, to offset the cost to taxpayers for having their workers enrolled in Medi-Cal, according to the deal.
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Negotiations at the state Capitol included an agreement on a constitutional amendment that seeks to offset the revenue highs and lows.
Verb
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Another contractor was brought in to neutralize the green growth using nanobubble technology, which did cut back some of the green growth, but may have led to the new blue finish peeling off the bottom of the pool.
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That legitimate gap does not, however, neutralize the resistance risk their products carry.
Verb
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Week-long gembas, or plant visits, ahead of vehicle launches include about 12 people per project auditing station by station, correcting process sheets, ensuring proper calibration of tools and training of workers, and speaking with plant employees about an issue.
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Cite this Entry
“Counteract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counteract. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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