as in counter
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
the belief that higher interest rates are an effective counterforce to inflationary pressures
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterforce
The only country that currently has enough nuclear weapons to conceivably launch a counterforce strike against the United States is Russia, so USA TODAY based its weapons analysis on Moscow’s nuclear arsenal.
—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
6 Jan. 2026
In view of these drawbacks, a better approach would be to adapt the current counterforce strategy for the new era.
—
Vipin Narang,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
Or maybe fast-food chains did streamline their business processes with the help of new technologies, but at the same time, maybe there were productivity-sucking counterforces.
—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
18 Mar. 2025
While offering no such counterforce, U.S. miners and engineers would offer juicy targets for Russian special forces or pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine who are disgruntled with Kyiv or U.S. mining efforts.
—
William Walldorf,
TIME,
7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterforce
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
6 Jan. 2026
In view of these drawbacks, a better approach would be to adapt the current counterforce strategy for the new era.
—
Vipin Narang,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
Or maybe fast-food chains did streamline their business processes with the help of new technologies, but at the same time, maybe there were productivity-sucking counterforces.
—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
18 Mar. 2025
While offering no such counterforce, U.S. miners and engineers would offer juicy targets for Russian special forces or pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine who are disgruntled with Kyiv or U.S. mining efforts.
—
William Walldorf,
TIME,
7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterforce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterforce
Noun
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But the court ruled in February that Republican counter plans violated a Utah referendum prohibiting gerrymandering, solidifying the single district centered on the increasingly liberal Salt Lake City.
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Moments later, a gong signaled a fictional airport announcement informing guests that the scheduled flight to Butterlandia had been canceled and directed them to a Butter Baby check-in counter for a complimentary gift.
Noun
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Other companies offering soil carbon offsets include Denmark’s Agreena, which describes itself as the largest soil carbon program in Europe.
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This structured pair is a close match to Lohan’s shorts with crisp offset pleats and an invisible hemline, both of which dress up the look.
Noun
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The shape of the heel with a wider base provides more support, providing significantly more stability, balance, and weight distribution than traditional slim or stiletto heels.
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Globally, the top concern is work-life balance, specifically when job demands consistently exceed the time and energy workers have to meet them.
Noun
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Paint can also be a powerful corrective.
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These are all refreshing correctives to the texts that previously stood in for contemporary Japan internationally, including any number of small volumes about magical cafés, bookshops, or libraries, often with cats on their covers.
Cite this Entry
“Counterforce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterforce. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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