countervail

American  

[koun-ter-veyl] / ˌkaʊn tərˈveɪl /

verb (used with object)

1. to act or avail against with equal power, force, or effect; counteract.

   Synonyms:

   neutralize, counterpoise, counterbalance

2. to furnish an equivalent of or a compensation for; offset.

3. Archaic. to equal.

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verb (used without object)

1. to be of equal force in opposition; avail.

countervail British  

/ ˌkaʊntəˈveɪl, ˈkaʊntəˌveɪl /

verb

1. to act or act against with equal power or force

2. (tr) to make up for; compensate; offset

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Other Word Forms

• uncountervailed adjective

Etymology

Origin of countervail

1350–1400; Middle English contrevailen < Anglo-French countrevail-, tonic stem (subjunctive) of countrevaloir to equal, be comparable to < Latin phrase contrā valēre to be of worth against (someone or something). See counter-, -valent

Example Sentences

Without “cultural invention as a potential countervailing force,” the counter-counterculture filled the vacuum with the vulgar nihilism of digital norm evasion.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The countervailing tension exists between avoiding estate tax through lifetime transfers and avoiding capital gains tax through step-up at death,” he says.

From MarketWatch

The Commerce Department will issue antidumping duty orders and countervailing duty orders on such imports as a result.

From The Wall Street Journal

The 10-percent lumber tariff stacks on anti-dumping and countervailing duties the country faces, and the United States recently more than doubled these to 35 percent.

From Barron's

The countervailing question is whether Ms. Sears can present voters with an alternative.

From The Wall Street Journal