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 counterpoint will undoubtedly centre on revenue.
—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
At a time when the United States has tense relationships with many of its overseas allies, international tourists' appreciation of American culture offers a counterpoint to the animosity between politicians.
—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
19 June 2026
The palette includes lemon yellow, sunbeam orange and ocean blue, with black structural mesh as a counterpoint to these hues.
—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
Its mild earthiness offers a nice counterpoint to the savory tomato sauce and punchy spices in the drink too, Hale tells us.
—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterpoint
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
At a time when the United States has tense relationships with many of its overseas allies, international tourists' appreciation of American culture offers a counterpoint to the animosity between politicians.
—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
19 June 2026
The palette includes lemon yellow, sunbeam orange and ocean blue, with black structural mesh as a counterpoint to these hues.
—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
Its mild earthiness offers a nice counterpoint to the savory tomato sauce and punchy spices in the drink too, Hale tells us.
—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterpoint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterpoint
Noun
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The conditions are a stark contrast to the nation's bicentennial celebration in Washington in 1976, when the high temperature reached 84 degrees and the low dipped to 65 degrees, according to Department of Commerce data.
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Allen also recommends avoiding light grout lines at all costs to prevent a stark contrast.
Noun
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According to Littley, a common mistake among home cooks is neglecting how the pasta and sauce complement each other.
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Research in Management Science finds AI complements domain expertise rather than replacing it, creating the most value when the person interpreting the output already understands the problem.
Cite this Entry
“Counterpoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpoint. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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