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.

---

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

---

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

“This factor acts as a counterbalance to geopolitical optimism, limiting the magnitude of upward moves.”

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • Mar. 1, 2026

To counterbalance the hefty AI spending, Amazon has cut back in other areas, most notably among its white-collar workforce.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 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

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