as in offset
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
charitable giving is usually a good counterbalance to the self-indulgent commercialism of the Christmas season
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to offset
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective
a hearty dinner might counterbalance missing lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterbalance
Elias Leight, Billboard, 28 May 2025
The history Trump alludes to is the strategy of the Nixon era, in which the U.S. sought to align with China as a counterbalance to the Soviet Union, encouraging a split between the two communist entities in the process.
—Linggong Kong, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025
Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
His Italian heritage could be a benefit, counterbalancing the novelty of his candidacy with the stability of an Italian papacy.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterbalance
Noun
On a long album full of romantic vitriol and emotional desolation, songs in this mode provide brief eruptions of uplift — a necessary counterbalance.
—Elias Leight, Billboard, 28 May 2025
The history Trump alludes to is the strategy of the Nixon era, in which the U.S. sought to align with China as a counterbalance to the Soviet Union, encouraging a split between the two communist entities in the process.
—Linggong Kong, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
Many of the attendees of the event, founded in 2018, are traditionally small or one-person businesses that will need to counterbalance rising costs by finding efficiencies with AI.
—Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
His Italian heritage could be a benefit, counterbalancing the novelty of his candidacy with the stability of an Italian papacy.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterbalance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterbalance
Noun
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That's still a huge offset to the deficit and debt projections coming from the budget bill alone.—
Kelly Evans,
CNBC,
8 July 2025
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However, the proliferation of low-quality or poorly verified offsets dilutes the market's credibility and undermines climate goals.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
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This productivity step-change neutralizes a historical advantage of mega-firms.—
Noah Ohrner,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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The assailant, a lone gunman with extremist affiliations, was quickly neutralized by Secret Service agents, but not before fatally wounding Trump.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
Noun
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New York — Alpha Oumar Diallo hunches over a kitchen counter at a library café in Brooklyn, his nose hovering above a plastic container of brownie batter.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
13 July 2025
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The erratic seventh season of Love Island USA, which concludes Sunday, offers a counter (somewhat) to the form.—
Aisha Harris,
NPR,
13 July 2025
Verb
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This means Single-bit errors are automatically corrected in hardware and Double-bit errors are detected and flagged, but not corrected.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
14 July 2025
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Trump believes that instituting (or threatening to institute) tariffs is one way to correct this.—
William Z. Fox,
Baltimore Sun,
14 July 2025
Noun
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Her look included an A-line poplin skirt with crisp pleats that create shape and volume and a simple white tank top, striking the perfect balance between polished and relaxed.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
19 July 2025
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Each society or jurisdiction will determine the right balance of these elements to achieve the overarching policy goals under a set of normative values.—
Paulo Carvão,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
Noun
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But then, China is also in no position to challenge or provide a counterweight to the United States in the region.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
6 July 2025
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Indeed, China and Russia have been leading the effort to form steering groups, such as the BRICS, to serve as counterweights to the G-7 and other bodies dominated by the West.—
Charles A. Kupchan,
Time,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterbalance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterbalance. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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