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

Yet fears of layoffs might still act as a counterbalance.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

Mexico has historically had close ties with Cuba as a way to counterbalance U.S. power in the region.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

They also sought better relations with the US as a counterbalance to their dependence on China, at a time when the Obama administration was making its celebrated "pivot" to Asia.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2026

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

From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2025

Then Du Bois tore into Washington for the older man’s lack of a spiritual counterbalance to “the evils of Get and Grab.”

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• counteract
• outweigh
• rectify