counterbalances 1 of 2

noun

plural of counterbalance
as in offsets
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective charitable giving is usually a good counterbalance to the self-indulgent commercialism of the Christmas season

Synonyms & Similar Words

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counterbalances

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of counterbalance
as in neutralizes
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective a hearty dinner might counterbalance missing lunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of counterbalances
Verb
That uncertainty and rise in unemployment tends to fuel a near-term dip in demand for goods, which counterbalances the price increases from tariffs. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026 The pastel counterbalances the darker and mid-tones in the forecast. — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 16 Sep. 2025 The book counterbalances the weirdo factor with multiple heartwarming Disney Adult interviews, including one with an amputee who achieved a running goal at a Disney race and another in which a woman reprioritized, choosing a church mission trip instead of financing another Disney World adventure. — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterbalances
  1. offsets
  2. neutralizes
  3. counters
  4. corrects
  5. balances
  6. counteracts
  7. outweighs
Noun
  • Chinese Money Plant Chinese money plants (Pilea peperomioides) often produce offsets or baby plants, which are easy to divide and repot into their own containers.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2026
  • And this does the latter quite nicely, the classic claret and blue along with a gold trim offsets the whole thing rather well.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of offsets
Verb
  • Fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains stimulate saliva, which neutralizes acids and washes away food particles.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Fruits, vegetables and whole grains stimulate saliva production, which neutralizes acids and washes away food particles.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of neutralizes
Noun
  • The state counters that funding the church school would violate the state's anti-discrimination law.
    — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Mail, keys, reusable bags, lunch containers and water bottles migrate onto counters because no other surface in the home has been assigned to them — which pushes everyday clutter straight into active work zones.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of counters
Verb
  • This story corrects the Yankees’ record in each of the past three seasons.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • IonQ attributes this feat to its dual decoder architecture, where the first decoder extracts the initial syndrome measurements while the second decoder corrects the residual errors after refining the intermediate representation.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of corrects
Noun
  • These balances may need different treatment Carrying debt into retirement isn't necessarily a problem.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Accounting software like QuickBooks Online can automate invoice creation, track payments and send reminders about outstanding balances.
    — Carson Brunson, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of balances
Verb
  • Winds may not be quite as strong near Sacramento in the evening as the Delta breeze counteracts some of the north winds — a peculiar setup — but could still be gusty in sudden bursts.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • While salicylic acid has a reputation for drying out skin, the triple ceramide complex in this cream counteracts that by drenching skin in long-lasting moisture—up to a full day—after application.
    — Mary Honkus, Glamour, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of counteracts
Verb
  • In Los Angeles, three weeks of good baseball far outweighs six months of poor performance.
    — Katie Woo, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In some projections, that extra snow outweighs the ice lost to the warming ocean, and the ice sheet actually grows.
    — Robert Kopp, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of outweighs

Browse Nearby Words

counterbalanced
counterbalances
counterbalancing
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Cite this Entry

“Counterbalances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterbalances. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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