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
Got a counterpoint about why these are a great idea?
—
Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 14 May 2026
Ashley’s shoe style, retailing for $620, served as a dark counterpoint to her otherwise all-white Toteme look.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
TikTok clips and algorithmic playlists may help lead kids toward Hum, Failure, Swervedriver or Lovesliescrushing, but Slide Away gives that discovery physical form — a real-world counterpoint to increasingly homogenized corporate festival culture.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 13 May 2026
Consisting of jamesjamesjames, Varg²™, Eurohead, and Skarp, the outfit nakedly endeavors to reappraise the richly earnest sounds of 2010s Swedish EDM, known for its pointillistic, high-octave melodies and counterpoints that, at their best, imbue big-room propulsion with butterflies in the stomach.
—Nathan Evans, Pitchfork, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterpoint
Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 14 May 2026
Ashley’s shoe style, retailing for $620, served as a dark counterpoint to her otherwise all-white Toteme look.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
TikTok clips and algorithmic playlists may help lead kids toward Hum, Failure, Swervedriver or Lovesliescrushing, but Slide Away gives that discovery physical form — a real-world counterpoint to increasingly homogenized corporate festival culture.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 13 May 2026
Consisting of jamesjamesjames, Varg²™, Eurohead, and Skarp, the outfit nakedly endeavors to reappraise the richly earnest sounds of 2010s Swedish EDM, known for its pointillistic, high-octave melodies and counterpoints that, at their best, imbue big-room propulsion with butterflies in the stomach.
—Nathan Evans, Pitchfork, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterpoint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterpoint
Noun
-
The Dodgers’ offense, in contrast to the Brewers’, didn’t record a hit off Brewers starter Logan Henderson until the fourth inning.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2026
-
In contrast, André Burakovsky and Artyom Levshunov stumbled through forgettable seasons.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
Like ballet flats, these shoes have a low-profile silhouette, which will make a sweet complement to breezy blouses and midi skirts in the summer months.—
Aaron Royce,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
Then, in mid-April, the company moved this booster with a full complement of 33 engines to the launch pad for another static fire test.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counterpoint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpoint. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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