as in offset
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
hard work can often be a counterweight to modest intelligence
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Recent Examples of counterweight
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
The rear cabin acts as a mobile counterweight and traction reserve.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
The incident comes as Newsom, who is weighing a 2028 presidential run, has increasingly positioned California as a counterweight to Washington.
—Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Powell has often cited support on Capitol Hill as a counterweight to Trump’s attacks.
—Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterweight
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The rear cabin acts as a mobile counterweight and traction reserve.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
The incident comes as Newsom, who is weighing a 2028 presidential run, has increasingly positioned California as a counterweight to Washington.
—Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Powell has often cited support on Capitol Hill as a counterweight to Trump’s attacks.
—Joey Cappelletti, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterweight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterweight
Noun
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If your aloe has produced offsets, when repotting, separate the offsets from the parent plant with a sharp knife.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Feb. 2026
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Carbon offsets were achieved through the reforestation of the Nhamabwe salt pan with indigenous mangroves from the lodge’s own nursery.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Swift’s flawless blowout, worn tucked behind her ears, is elegant, lovely, and luxurious, offering a full-circle counter to her debut curls.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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If using a front-load or top-load washer, add some white bath towels to help keep the washer from becoming off-balance.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
17 Feb. 2026
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Since there are far too many variables that go into a knife’s design—handle shape, blade shape, weight, balance, material, and so on— determining which knife is the best knife is fundamentally impossible.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Crystallizing in the early ’90s at a time when American death metal was leaning into gory extremity (and the Norwegians were just actually killing people), the style offered a whimsical counterbalance to all the shock and horror.—
Sam Goldner,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
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However, the overall economy seems mostly stable, acting as a bit of a counterbalance.—
Aly J Yale,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 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
“Counterweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterweight. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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