counterbalance

[koun-ter-bal-uhns, koun-ter-bal-uhns]

noun

1. a weight balancing another weight; an equal weight, power, or influence acting in opposition; counterpoise.

verb (used with or without object)

counterbalanced, counterbalancing 

1. to act against or oppose with an equal weight, force, or influence; offset.

   Synonyms: balance, rectify, countervail, correct

counterbalance

noun

1. a weight or force that balances or offsets another

verb

1. to act as a counterbalance

Other Word Forms

• uncounterbalanced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of counterbalance¹

First recorded in 1570–80; counter- + balance

Example Sentences

Societies would need to eliminate all emissions they reasonably can, then counterbalance the "residual" emissions that cannot be removed.

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"The positive effects of a ramp-up in public spending is partly counterbalanced by the negative impact of trade tensions, which are expected to impact exports," the commission said of Germany.

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The First Offset, went the argument, had been the use of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles to counterbalance the Soviet advantage in men and tanks in the early Cold War.

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Now we have, as a counterbalance to a lurid male gaze as the season’s new opera for L.A.

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"The recent rally was extremely steep, so this is the counterbalance."

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Related Words

• counteract 
• outweigh 
• rectify