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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
-
These familiar crystals exist in thermal equilibrium, maintaining their structure without energy input.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
-
After the system reaches equilibrium, the programmers can read the solution in the new configuration of the resonators.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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If the offset resumed, some taxpayers would see their refunds reduced or eliminated, likely triggering headaches at the IRS, too, even though the IRS does not control offset decisions.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
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If the offset resumed, some taxpayers would see their refunds reduced or eliminated, likely triggering headaches at the IRS, too, even though the IRS does not control offset decisions.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Without correcting for these relativistic effects, navigation errors would quickly accumulate, rendering GPS unreliable.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Players will now have the ability to correct mistakes by rewinding, as well as the option to save their progress.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Soda drinkers have been experimenting with mash-ups for decades — ever since fast-food restaurants moved soda machines out from behind the counter and gave customers free rein to mix their own drinks, Tofel said.—
Brittany Anas,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
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Once a counter-puncher, Svitolina plays a more aggressive style since returning from maternity leave.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Israel Defense Forces conducted approximately 80 brigade-level counterterrorism operations over the past year in the West Bank — known to Israelis as Judea and Samaria — neutralizing hundreds of terrorists and seizing more than 1,300 weapons, according to data released by the military.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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For instance, in soils that have more than 20% organic matter, like those found in parts of Florida and other agricultural regions, the tests’ acids may be partially neutralized by other compounds in the soil.—
Dinesh Phuyal,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike earlier models limited to upper-body tasks, Helix 02 uses a single neural network to control walking, manipulation, and balance together, directly from raw sensor data.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
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Dickerson and Stephens are both current on their car loans and working with National Debt Relief to reduce their credit card balances.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Next week’s inaugural critical minerals summit in Washington marks the White House’s latest attempt to build a counterweight to China’s dominance of African mineral supply chains.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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The rear cabin acts as a mobile counterweight and traction reserve.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Young Hoteliers Academy positions itself as a corrective.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
-
His most ambitious series to date, Pluribus can be seen as a corrective of sorts—a grand, artful, mind-bendingly philosophical, darkly funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but consistently humane vindication of our fractious species.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterpoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpoise. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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