as in contrast
something or someone that is different from another especially in a pleasing way
The warm color palette of the furniture is the perfect counterpoint to the cool walls. The acidity of the sauce works in counterpoint to the richness of the dish.
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Recent Examples of counterpoint
The Askeim 8 Year Old uses golden promise barley to bring back a classic taste that is perfect to explore as a counterpoint to the Glenffidich 12.
—
Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The series, Hanks added, will be a valuable counterpoint to the conventional sense of the founding of the nation as being about fireworks on July 4 and a flag sewn by Betsy Ross.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
Sleek white perimeter cabinets, quartz countertops, and barstools are other modern counterpoints to the dark wood.
—Kelly Ryan Kegans, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
The costumes were the perfect nondescript counterpoint to Lamar’s trend-launching look.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterpoint
Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The series, Hanks added, will be a valuable counterpoint to the conventional sense of the founding of the nation as being about fireworks on July 4 and a flag sewn by Betsy Ross.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
Sleek white perimeter cabinets, quartz countertops, and barstools are other modern counterpoints to the dark wood.
—Kelly Ryan Kegans, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
The costumes were the perfect nondescript counterpoint to Lamar’s trend-launching look.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterpoint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterpoint
Noun
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As for her glam, Strogoff wore her bright blonde hair in loose mermaid waves and darkened her eyebrows to a near black for a bold contrast.—
Starr Bowenbank,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
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Neutral heels, by contrast, are having their own moment.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Denver has an elite defense, and Bo Nix is coming off a (nearly) complete performance in which the Broncos displayed a full complement of offensive options.—
J.J. Bailey,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Better yet, styling baggy jeans is effortless for fall, since the baggy fit complements the season’s oversized, layered look.—
India Roby,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterpoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpoint. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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