as in offsets
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 counterweights
When the executive presides over the legislative branch and retains veto authority, meaningful institutional counterweights can become harder to sustain.
—
Sara Albrecht, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Each tram has eight passenger cars and is powered by a typical heavy-duty elevator mechanism with cables, counterweights, etc.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
According to the outlets, the pair heard a loud bang and the elevator cabin jammed before eventually falling down the shaft, along with a number of concrete counterweights.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
They should be cultivated as counterweights to an overpowering security establishment.
—Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 26 Apr. 2018
Sara Albrecht, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Each tram has eight passenger cars and is powered by a typical heavy-duty elevator mechanism with cables, counterweights, etc.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
According to the outlets, the pair heard a loud bang and the elevator cabin jammed before eventually falling down the shaft, along with a number of concrete counterweights.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
They should be cultivated as counterweights to an overpowering security establishment.
—Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 26 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterweights
Noun
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Pruning For Cuttings Speaking of offsets, these are a great way to propagate your succulents and spread more plants around the garden.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
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Under the Daylight Act, the time zone UTC offsets would be changed to half-hour increments rather than hours.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Dish towels are not far behind, especially when used to dry hands, wipe counters, and clean up spills during the day.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
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Unlike bar counters, which usually just display sandwiches and pastries, a tavola calda serves a variety of hot dishes, including pasta, rice, meat, fish, and vegetables.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Despite the higher balances, this year's plans echo prior years, when paying down debt was also a priority, Matt Schulz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree, told CBS News.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
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Average retirement account balances for those aged 55-64 averaged about $271,000 at the end of 2024 in plans administered by Vanguard, according to the asset management giant.—
Brian Baker CFA,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 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
Cite this Entry
“Counterweights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterweights. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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