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

But the impact was small because rising import costs were counterbalanced by falling demand as imports and exports dropped and manufacturing activity contracted.

From The Wall Street Journal

But Mr. Brown, in his refusal to credit counterbalancing positives, such as Roosevelt’s prodigious intellect or his genuine empathy for the less fortunate, risks reducing TR to a one-dimensional straw man.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Science Daily

Although Brussels said food and services price rises are slowing, this was "counterbalanced by rising energy inflation".

From Barron's

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.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• counteract
• outweigh
• rectify