COUNTERBALANCES Synonyms: 37 Similar Words

counterbalances 1 of 2

noun

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

as in neutralizes

to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective a hearty dinner might counterbalance missing lunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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
The article warns against complacency, noting that if these temporary offsets disappear and supply constraints persist, panic buying and momentum trading could drive prices significantly higher.

— Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of offsets

Verb

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
Glutathione is an antioxidant made primarily in the liver that neutralizes other unstable molecules that attack the body and cause cellular damage.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of neutralizes

Noun

Some cabinetry and shelving provide storage, and quartz counters round out the space.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2026
Long before fast-food counters and coffee shops became fixtures of American life, luncheonettes gave generations of Americans an inexpensive place to grab a meal and helped change where women could eat, work and socialize in public.

— Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of counters

Verb

His system corrects for that by comparing each coach against the specific difficulty of what he was actually given, not a league-wide baseline.

— Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Robin doesn’t know how to use the word ‘’literally,’’ Ted corrects everyone, Lily chews too loudly, and Barney speaks in falsetto.

— Erin Strecker, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of corrects

Noun

Then there’s debt consolidation, where a personal loan combines multiple balances into one payment, potentially with different terms from your existing cards.

— Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Upstairs on the seventh floor, rooftop bar Flute balances pops of pink, leopard print, and zebra pattern with cork walls, an immaculate set of vintage 1970s chandeliers, and a gold sparkly DJ booth.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of balances

Verb

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
The former provides a boost of hydration that counteracts retinol’s infamous drying effects, and niacinamide boosts the efficacy of the titular ingredient’s dark spot-fading, plumping, and fine line-reducing benefits.

— Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of counteracts

Verb

But the positive effect of it way, way outweighs any negatives.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
While organizations want access to increasingly powerful AI capabilities, many are reaching the inevitable conclusion that having true ownership over their proprietary data far outweighs the benefits of using the newest or largest-hosted model.

— Pavel Bykov, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of outweighs

Browse Nearby Words

counterbalanced

counterbalances

counterbalancing

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Counterbalances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterbalances. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of counterbalances

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

empirical

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes