1
as in equilibrium
a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another
a musical piece with a counterpoise of loud and soft passages
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in offset
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
the happiness brought by a new baby was a timely counterpoise to the grief occasioned by a death in the family
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to offset
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective
her overall healthiness largely counterpoised the virulence of the infection
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterpoise
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023
What’s most remarkable about Torruella’s film is its counterpoise between the sense of raging injustice and the island’s mystic stillness.
—Amada Torruella, The New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2023
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023
Conflicts of interest are objective situations that arise when a person’s financial interests can be counterpoised to their public responsibilities.
—Matthew Yglesias, Vox, 29 Nov. 2018
Noun
Molina, the embodiment of theatrical excellence, is perfectly cast as the rational counterpoise to Brady’s zealotry.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023
What’s most remarkable about Torruella’s film is its counterpoise between the sense of raging injustice and the island’s mystic stillness.
—Amada Torruella, The New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2023
Verb
Indeed, the Western, that peculiarly American contribution to the world’s store of epic and saga, often depends on the tale of a defeated Confederate at large to enforce virtue, someone whose heroic individualism is counterpoised with the superficial discipline of the federal troops.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023
Conflicts of interest are objective situations that arise when a person’s financial interests can be counterpoised to their public responsibilities.
—Matthew Yglesias, Vox, 29 Nov. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterpoise
Noun
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Nurturing Work-Life Synergy Maintaining a harmonious equilibrium between demanding job roles and personal life is pivotal for sustaining employee engagement.—
Wayne Yu,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Adrien Brody’s László Tóth is a Holocaust survivor battling for postwar equilibrium with a determination and wit that keeps us gripped.—
Raven Smith,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Federal debts that might trigger offsets include federal income tax delinquencies, student loan defaults, and SSA overpayments.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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If increasing tariffs reduces the trade deficit, that would be a potential offset to the negative GDP consequences of cutting government spending.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The station was damaged after its launch, forcing NASA to delay launching the crew and to map out and practice procedures for correcting Skylab’s problems.—
Alice George,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Mar. 2025
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By correcting the president’s falsehoods while in the Oval Office.—
Stephen Collinson,
CNN,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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There’s also a 15-seat chef’s counter that offers its own version of traditional omakase (meaning the menu is chef’s choice).—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
19 Mar. 2025
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Squeeze a drop of shampoo onto a damp cloth or towel to wipe away greasy cooking debris from whatever surface was hit, including the counter, stovetop, or backsplash.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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These tests only focus on measuring antibody activity that would directly neutralize the bird flu virus.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
19 Mar. 2025
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Meanwhile, tea tree extract and lavender oil soothe inflammation, while clover flower extract provides antioxidant benefits and neutralizes free radical damage to improve overall skin texture.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Balancing Acts: Motherhood, Leadership and Finding Joy When asked about creating balance in her demanding role, Hopkin is refreshingly candid.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
21 Mar. 2025
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The molecules then freeze, forming dust grains and thus establishing a balance between depletion and replenishment.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Soviet Union, for decades the great counterweight to the West, seemed like an immovable force.—
Martin Gutmann,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Rate cut expectations are rising, a useful counterweight to a slower economy.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA TODAY,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterpoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpoise. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
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