counterbalance

American  

[koun-ter-bal-uhns, koun-ter-bal-uhns] / ˈkaʊn tərˌbæl əns, ˌkaʊn tərˈbæl əns /

noun

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

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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 British  

noun

1. a weight or force that balances or offsets another

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verb

1. to act as a counterbalance

Other Word Forms

• uncounterbalanced adjective

Etymology

Origin of counterbalance

First recorded in 1570–80; counter- + balance

Example Sentences

You might wonder why this negative effect isn’t counterbalanced by the more upbeat mood of investors whose favorite team has won.

From MarketWatch

This distant mass counterbalances the Local Group's gravity.

From Science Daily

Over the past year, some stores raised prices, cut costs and canceled plans to counterbalance more expensive imports.

From MarketWatch

Yet fears of layoffs might still act as a counterbalance.

From MarketWatch

Because the wealthy are ideologically diverse, their participation can counterbalance these different forms of elite power.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• counteract
• outweigh
• rectify