counterpoint

Definition of counterpointnext
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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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 counterpoint His vision of transient living, where violence, desolation and sexuality were expressed through an aching slide guitar, offered a counterpoint to the gospel heard throughout southern Baptist churches. Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026 The counterpoint is that not all comforts are physical, and neither are all discomforts. Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 10 July 2026 Her father, Mitchell (Meegwun Fairbrother) will be a friend to Pa and her mother, White Sun (Alyssa Wapanatâhk), will provide a skeptical counterpoint to Ma. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 Taylor fit right into this style, and his melodic lines were a perfect counterpoint to Richards’s. René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for counterpoint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterpoint
Noun
  • Since the losing streak began, the Marlins’ bullpen ERA has ranked among the 10 worst in baseball, a stark contrast from June, when the unit ranked inside MLB’s top five.
    Tyler M. Carmona, Miami Herald, 26 July 2026
  • In Chicago, by contrast, the commissioner of aviation oversees O’Hare and Midway, the 3rd and 31st busiest airports in the country, for a salary of just over $360,000, according to the Chicago Data Portal.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 26 July 2026
Noun
  • Most investors cannot independently evaluate immunology, gene editing, RNA therapeutics, complement biology, oncology biomarkers, or statistical powering assumptions in clinical trials.
    Steve Brozak, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Quinn Hughes K'Andre Miller Sebastian Cossa That’s three forward lines (including a second line built from three trades that all involved the same pick), a full complement of defensemen and even a goalie.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 21 July 2026

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“Counterpoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpoint. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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