as in corrects
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective
if you get a high grade on this quiz, it will offset the D from your last one
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in counters
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
a better performance this time will be an offset to last year's dismal showing
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in cessations
the stopping of a process or activity
symptoms that were striking for their abrupt onset and their equally abrupt offset
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of offsets
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
The hope is that the large size of the sample offsets concerns about the demographics of respondents.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Figma is betting that usage will convert into revenue that offsets the infrastructure costs.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026
Toyotas aren’t cheap, but their reliability is unmatched, which offsets the pricetag.
—Jakob Schiller, Outside, 16 Feb. 2026
This offsets the Red Raiders' home loss to Kansas a few weeks ago.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
This includes wage garnishment, tax refund seizure through the Treasury Offset Program, and collection of federal benefits like Social Security offsets.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
The charter revenue offsets some of the ownership costs.
—Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Brass looks particularly stunning alongside other natural materials like marble and wood, where its warmth offsets cooler surfaces and enhances organic textures.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 25 Jan. 2026
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
And for the environmentally conscious, Avocado is a B-Corp brand that uses renewable energy at their factories and purchases carbon offsets for shipping.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 3 Mar. 2026
The buyout total just for coaches fired without offsets was around $76 million alone.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
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
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
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
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
That extra $71 billion offsets almost 60% of the gains from tariffs.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
House Republicans want to return $500 million annually to the middle class by expanding an income tax credit that offsets a portion of municipal property tax bills.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
The hope is that the large size of the sample offsets concerns about the demographics of respondents.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Figma is betting that usage will convert into revenue that offsets the infrastructure costs.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026
Toyotas aren’t cheap, but their reliability is unmatched, which offsets the pricetag.
—Jakob Schiller, Outside, 16 Feb. 2026
This offsets the Red Raiders' home loss to Kansas a few weeks ago.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
This includes wage garnishment, tax refund seizure through the Treasury Offset Program, and collection of federal benefits like Social Security offsets.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2026
The charter revenue offsets some of the ownership costs.
—Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Brass looks particularly stunning alongside other natural materials like marble and wood, where its warmth offsets cooler surfaces and enhances organic textures.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
And for the environmentally conscious, Avocado is a B-Corp brand that uses renewable energy at their factories and purchases carbon offsets for shipping.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 3 Mar. 2026
The buyout total just for coaches fired without offsets was around $76 million alone.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
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
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
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
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
That extra $71 billion offsets almost 60% of the gains from tariffs.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offsets
Verb
-
In this scenario, stripped of high-paying salaries, prime borrowers default and tank the $13 trillion residential mortgage market, unemployment spikes above 10%, the stock market corrects down 38%, and the economy collapses into a deflationary spiral.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The answer is a combination of ingredients that corrects, prevents, and protects—not to mention the affordable price point.—
Erika Reals,
InStyle,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Pesticides Campbell recommends keeping these items out of sight and reach of children, including off kitchen counters and bedside tables.—
Gina Lee Castro,
jsonline.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
As tipping prompts pop up everywhere — from coffee counters to convenience stores — many Americans are feeling fed up and confused about what's appropriate.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Temporary cessations of hostility, but no permanent closing of the moral and social divide between debtor and creditor, and no giving up on the thought that some lives matter more than others.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Especially because the historicization does something to Martin’s writing, tossing in a saccharine element that neutralizes some of his humor.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Baking soda naturally neutralizes odors and absorbs any moisture.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Andrii Dodonov/Getty Images The idea of debt collectors contacting borrowers about their unpaid balances is nothing new.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
While hardship withdrawals are at an all-time high, 401(k) balances have also jumped 11% from 2024 to 2025, driven by strong gains in the market.—
Brian Sloan,Dan Avery,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Automotive industry analysts are forecasting that another microchip shortage could hit in the coming months, which could increase risks for production halts as costs skyrocket.—
Breana Noble,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Nerves of an energy crisis intensified over the weekend as oil producers in the Gulf announced further halts to production, with Bahrain’s national oil company declaring force majeure.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But gaining access to that financial assistance isn’t easy because demand still drastically outweighs supply, despite expansion efforts.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Only one remaining game outweighs Thursday’s matchup in importance — Sunday’s home matinee against the Milwaukee Bucks.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Offsets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offsets. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
