as in offsets
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
Relevance
as in corrects
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterpoises
Noun
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Houses have been being built here since the early 1900s, and so there's different offsets.—
Ted Scouten,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026 -
Carbon offsets in sports are also in the news, with scandals erupting around them in connection with sports from FIFA’s 2022 World Cup to basketball’s LA Clippers.—
Brian P. McCullough,
The Conversation,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The light blue shade counteracts purple and pink tones to cover redness and veins, while the peach shade brightens and corrects sallow-looking skin.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
23 Dec. 2025
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When Linda says the gun has Mary's initials on it, Norma corrects her.—
Colleen Kratofil,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Accessibility There’s a wheelchair accessible ramp at The Pointe Restaurant, and elevators for access to all public areas and guestrooms with specific rooms featuring lower counters and accessible showers and balconies.—
Jennie Nunn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams had the perfect counters for Minnesota’s defense.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Instead of scattering light, this coating neutralizes reflections, making dark scenes easier to see even under direct lighting.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Jan. 2026
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Its acidity effectively breaks down grease, eliminates mold, neutralizes odors, and dissolves mineral deposits.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Washington’s neutrality preserved the republic’s future, enabling economic expansion under the funding system Hamilton designed, territorial growth through the Louisiana Purchase and beyond, and eventual emergence as a great power capable of tipping global balances.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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Millions of people who sometimes pay off their balances could also face new restrictions, the group said.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Some of these values—such as a disciplined commitment to physical fitness—are good and, in my opinion, necessary correctives to the enervating distractions of 21st-century living.—
Dan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
2 Oct. 2025
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These are not radical demands, but overdue correctives necessary for restoring public trust in higher education.—
Ilya Shapiro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Counterpoises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpoises. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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