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
-
No stable equilibrium would be arrived at easily.—
Comfort Ero,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Cramer warned that these moments can feel chaotic — even irrational — but are often driven by valuation extremes finally snapping back toward equilibrium.—
Luke Fountain,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Houses have been being built here since the early 1900s, and so there's different offsets.—
Ted Scouten,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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Top with half of the Nutella, swirling it into the batter with a small offset spatula or a butter knife.—
Midwest Living,
Midwest Living,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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This story has been updated to correct the number of missiles Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia fired Thursday night.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
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In its October earnings conference call, Puma CEO Arthur Hoeld ticked off a list of things Puma needs to correct.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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From behind the counter of his tiny store, The Latin Corner, surrounded by candies, snacks and other goods from his homeland of Venezuela, David Villanueva’s eyes are glued to a flat screen TV.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Jan. 2026
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FreshCo has kept its market component, which allows customers to purchase fish or stone crabs at the counter and take them home.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Kinetic interception approach Unlike electronic countermeasures, DroneHunter Varta relies on a kinetic method to neutralize targets.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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However, as antioxidants, the polyphenols in olive oil can neutralize those harmful molecules, thereby reducing oxidative stress and disease risk.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The perfect balance for a sport that jostles between exquisite and excruciating.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Peterson, who did indeed return to the court, was hacked on an off-balance 3 with one second to play.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Just next door to Venezuela lies Guyana, where Forbes Burnham rose to power during the Cold War with external backing that viewed him as a strategic counterweight rather than a democratic choice.—
Rick Singh,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
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It is also known for walking on its back legs, using its tail as a counterweight.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Young Hoteliers Academy positions itself as a corrective.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
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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 11 Jan. 2026.
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