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
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025
Potassium helps counterbalance sodium in your body, which raises your blood pressure.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 3 Nov. 2025
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Nov. 2025
Yes on Prop 50 won big, giving Democrats a chance to counterbalance GOP efforts to squeeze out more Republican House seats.
—NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterbalance
Noun
This proactive discomfort is the necessary internal counterbalance to the external pressure.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025
Potassium helps counterbalance sodium in your body, which raises your blood pressure.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
Fast casual concepts are counterbalancing this by emphasizing quality messaging, enhanced digital experiences, and product customization.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Nov. 2025
Yes on Prop 50 won big, giving Democrats a chance to counterbalance GOP efforts to squeeze out more Republican House seats.
—NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterbalance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterbalance
Noun
-
Houses have been being built here since the early 1900s, and so there's different offsets.—
Ted Scouten,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Top with half of the Nutella, swirling it into the batter with a small offset spatula or a butter knife.—
Midwest Living,
Midwest Living,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Within a few short years, all effective sources of opposition were neutralized in Hungary.—
Kim Lane Scheppele,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Ukraine’s battle against Russia’s relentless drone assaults has found a powerful counter in the STING interceptor drone, a compact, fast, and cost-effective weapon designed to neutralize enemy UAVs mid-air.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
From behind the counter of his tiny store, The Latin Corner, surrounded by candies, snacks and other goods from his homeland of Venezuela, David Villanueva’s eyes are glued to a flat screen TV.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Jan. 2026
-
FreshCo has kept its market component, which allows customers to purchase fish or stone crabs at the counter and take them home.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This story has been updated to correct the number of missiles Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia fired Thursday night.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
-
In its October earnings conference call, Puma CEO Arthur Hoeld ticked off a list of things Puma needs to correct.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The perfect balance for a sport that jostles between exquisite and excruciating.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Peterson, who did indeed return to the court, was hacked on an off-balance 3 with one second to play.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Just next door to Venezuela lies Guyana, where Forbes Burnham rose to power during the Cold War with external backing that viewed him as a strategic counterweight rather than a democratic choice.—
Rick Singh,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
-
It is also known for walking on its back legs, using its tail as a counterweight.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counterbalance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterbalance. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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