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
By 2025, Iran joined the BRICS alliance — an international organization founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as a counterweight to NATO expansion.
—
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 8 Mar. 2026
It was suggested that artists should stay away from politics because films are a counterweight to politics.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 8 Mar. 2026
When clinicians practice this way, patients still seek out peers — but as companions, not counterweights.
—Scott Hamilton, STAT, 4 Mar. 2026
The Sunni Islamist organization did not receive large-scale aid from Iran until the 1990s, and, according to Israeli press accounts, Israel provided early support as a counterweight to the secular Palestine Liberation Organization.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterweight
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 8 Mar. 2026
It was suggested that artists should stay away from politics because films are a counterweight to politics.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 8 Mar. 2026
When clinicians practice this way, patients still seek out peers — but as companions, not counterweights.
—Scott Hamilton, STAT, 4 Mar. 2026
The Sunni Islamist organization did not receive large-scale aid from Iran until the 1990s, and, according to Israeli press accounts, Israel provided early support as a counterweight to the secular Palestine Liberation Organization.
—Foreign Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterweight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterweight
Noun
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Because of this slight offset, stars will appear to rise four minutes earlier every 24 hours on successive nights.—
Vahe Peroomian,
The Conversation,
5 Mar. 2026
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In some cases, benefit offsets (where the VA withholds part of your monthly benefit to repay a debt) can be adjusted to reduce the financial strain.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On the other side of the living area was my and my husband’s room, with a king bed draped in netting, an en-suite bathroom with two stone sinks, live-edge wood counters, and a rain shower with a large window to outside, and a larger terrace with a hammock.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
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Casting Emraan Hashmi in the lead was a deliberate act of counter-programming.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Italy starter Michael Lorenzen allowed two hits in 4 2/3 scoreless innings to keep the Americans off balance.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Techa Tungateja/Getty Images Elevated living costs, growing credit card balances and lingering financial strain from the past few years have pushed many borrowers to reconsider their debt strategies right now.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Engineers have developed a simple strategy to help robots remain stable while repairing satellites in orbit by using a second robotic arm to counterbalance movements.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
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Ironically, that war emboldened Iran, as the vicious Iraqi strongman was a regional counterbalance to the vicious mullahs.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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.—
Sarah Chihaya,
New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2026
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The Young Hoteliers Academy positions itself as a corrective.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterweight. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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