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Synonyms

counterweight

American  
[koun-ter-weyt] / ˈkaʊn tərˌweɪt /

noun

  1. a weight used as a counterbalance.

verb (used with object)

  1. to balance or equip with a counterweight.

counterweight British  
/ ˈkaʊntəˌweɪt /

noun

  1. a counterbalancing weight, influence, or force

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • counterweighted adjective

Etymology

Origin of counterweight

First recorded in 1685–95; counter- + weight

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Back then it was seen as a good counterweight to tech and fairly Amazon-proof to boot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

When asked about Germany's support for Israel at a press conference on Thursday, Wenders said: "We cannot really enter the field of politics", describing filmmakers as "the counterweight to politics".

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

The governor looked to define his legacy by touting California’s economic and policy achievements while casting the state as a counterweight to dysfunction in Washington.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026

Bonds have long played a crucial role as a counterweight to equity volatility during periods of stress, and represent the safe-haven component of the traditional 60/40 portfolio mix for investors with a moderate risk tolerance.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 2, 2025

But this was the counterweight, the act of binding and holding.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.