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
Relevance
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
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 counterpoise
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
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
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
That’s more than just a defeat; that is institutional counterpoise against the attempt by the president to corrupt institutions.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
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
-
The clock is ticking, again, and their resources and equilibrium have dwindled, again.
-
But Claire has her limits from the lopsided equilibrium — Libras bounce when the romantic balance is off-kilter.
Noun
-
Other companies offering soil carbon offsets include Denmark’s Agreena, which describes itself as the largest soil carbon program in Europe.
-
This structured pair is a close match to Lohan’s shorts with crisp offset pleats and an invisible hemline, both of which dress up the look.
Verb
-
Week-long gembas, or plant visits, ahead of vehicle launches include about 12 people per project auditing station by station, correcting process sheets, ensuring proper calibration of tools and training of workers, and speaking with plant employees about an issue.
-
Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio.
Noun
-
But the court ruled in February that Republican counter plans violated a Utah referendum prohibiting gerrymandering, solidifying the single district centered on the increasingly liberal Salt Lake City.
-
Moments later, a gong signaled a fictional airport announcement informing guests that the scheduled flight to Butterlandia had been canceled and directed them to a Butter Baby check-in counter for a complimentary gift.
Verb
-
Another contractor was brought in to neutralize the green growth using nanobubble technology, which did cut back some of the green growth, but may have led to the new blue finish peeling off the bottom of the pool.
-
That legitimate gap does not, however, neutralize the resistance risk their products carry.
Noun
-
The shape of the heel with a wider base provides more support, providing significantly more stability, balance, and weight distribution than traditional slim or stiletto heels.
-
Globally, the top concern is work-life balance, specifically when job demands consistently exceed the time and energy workers have to meet them.
Noun
-
Avila Chevalier has outside help from Justice Democrats and American Priorities, a pro-Palestinian super PAC formed as a counterweight to AIPAC.
-
Her account there is excessive and loose, a counterweight to her essays and memoirs, which can seem opaque and professorial.
Noun
-
Paint can also be a powerful corrective.
-
These are all refreshing correctives to the texts that previously stood in for contemporary Japan internationally, including any number of small volumes about magical cafés, bookshops, or libraries, often with cats on their covers.
Cite this Entry
“Counterpoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpoise. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
