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
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
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Recent Examples of counterbalances
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
Verb
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
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The latest estimates indicate that up to 10 million defaulted borrowers are at risk of tax refund or Social Security benefit offsets.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
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Business card users will also see $3,500 in annual benefits, including new hotel credits and offsets for purchases at Dell Technologies and Adobe.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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His studio team appreciates how subtle soft pink/white crystal lighting neutralizes the green of the glass.—
Natasha Gural,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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The acid also neutralizes the baking soda and helps to eliminate its metallic flavor.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Southern Living,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Folks swear by it for everything from wiping down kitchen counters to freshening up laundry, but despite its many uses, apple cider vinegar isn’t the miracle cleaner for everything.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
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In Birmingham, Selfridges is planning another beauty hall, which will reach completion in November with 37 new counters and a dedicated fragrance space.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Since 2013, Romana has specialized in advanced restorative and cosmetic dentistry that corrects or restores or enhances smiles.—
Shawn Price,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
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Which is why receiving feedback, especially the kind that calls us out or corrects us, can be so difficult.—
Susanne Biro,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, credit card balances have continued to rise, according to research on household debt by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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The Veterans Benefits Administration has received advance appropriations since 2017 and any carryover balances in discretionary accounts can be allocated for current operations, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.—
C. A. Bridges,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The red counteracts the green, and the acidity helps neutralize the reaction.—
Maureen Choi,
Glamour,
25 Sep. 2025
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In combination, these strategies offer a blueprint for daily living that counteracts some of the evolutionary mismatches of modern life.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Some of these values—such as a disciplined commitment to physical fitness—are good and, in my opinion, necessary correctives to the enervating distractions of 21st-century living.—
Dan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
2 Oct. 2025
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These are not radical demands, but overdue correctives necessary for restoring public trust in higher education.—
Ilya Shapiro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Still, fear of deportation outweighs the fear of bullets for many.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
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But in the view of most drone commanders, the value of the program outweighs these risks.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterbalances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterbalances. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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