counterbalances 1 of 2

plural of counterbalance
as in offsets
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

counterbalances

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of counterbalance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of counterbalances
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 The pastel counterbalances the darker and mid-tones in the forecast. — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 16 Sep. 2025 The book counterbalances the weirdo factor with multiple heartwarming Disney Adult interviews, including one with an amputee who achieved a running goal at a Disney race and another in which a woman reprioritized, choosing a church mission trip instead of financing another Disney World adventure. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterbalances
Noun
  • Chinese Money Plant Chinese money plants (Pilea peperomioides) often produce offsets or baby plants, which are easy to divide and repot into their own containers.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2026
  • And this does the latter quite nicely, the classic claret and blue along with a gold trim offsets the whole thing rather well.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • As water flows through, the media traps or neutralizes certain contaminants before the water reaches you.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2026
  • In addition to hydrogen peroxide, these strips contain xylitol, which boosts saliva flow and neutralizes the acids in your mouth that can break down your enamel.
    — Sara Coughlin, Allure, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Essential California checked out the trials, tested airport counters, walked through the terminal’s new gates and conversed with excited passengers looking forward to their next flight out of Burbank.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Speed The speed of a bill counter is self-explanatory — faster counters count more bills in a shorter time frame.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • IonQ attributes this feat to its dual decoder architecture, where the first decoder extracts the initial syndrome measurements while the second decoder corrects the residual errors after refining the intermediate representation.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
  • This story corrects the sequence of Dodgers home runs in the second paragraph to show Will Smith hit their fourth homer of the eighth inning.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The debt snowball method focuses on paying off the smallest balances first to build motivation.
    — Rebecca Safier, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Rojas suggests exploring Net 30 accounts, a form of business credit in which balances must be paid within 30 days.
    — Maykel Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Winds may not be quite as strong near Sacramento in the evening as the Delta breeze counteracts some of the north winds — a peculiar setup — but could still be gusty in sudden bursts.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • While salicylic acid has a reputation for drying out skin, the triple ceramide complex in this cream counteracts that by drenching skin in long-lasting moisture—up to a full day—after application.
    — Mary Honkus, Glamour, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Some users return to smartphones when the inconvenience outweighs the benefits.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The Guardian has explored the practical compromises of living with a dumbphone, and some users return to smartphones when the inconvenience outweighs the benefits.
    — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counterbalances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterbalances. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster