coun·ter·bal·ance
ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌba-lən(t)s 
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈba-
1
: a weight that balances another
2
: a force or influence that offsets or checks an opposing force
coun·ter·bal·ance
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈba-lən(t)s
ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌba-
counterbalanced; counterbalancing; counterbalances
1
: to oppose or balance with an equal weight or force
2
: to equip with counterbalances
Examples of counterbalance in a Sentence
Noun
charitable giving is usually a good counterbalance to the self-indulgent commercialism of the Christmas season
Verb
The author's wry humor counterbalances the book's serious subject matter.
a hearty dinner might counterbalance missing lunch
Recent Examples on the Web
Deborah Wince-Smith, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Trump’s accession to the White House has removed this counterbalance.
—Amos Harel, Foreign Affairs, 7 Apr. 2025
Deborah Wince-Smith, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Washington, having failed to convince Beijing to change its predatory economic policies or to move forward with an alternative trading bloc to counterbalance China, was left with one option: the United States had to become more like China.
—Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterbalance
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Noun
Four key areas of action are high priorities: First, promote U.S. competitiveness interests globally and counterbalance China’s geostrategy.
—Deborah Wince-Smith, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Trump’s accession to the White House has removed this counterbalance.
—Amos Harel, Foreign Affairs, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
The United States needs to play a more muscular role in promoting liberal free market principles and counterbalancing China’s ambitions by asserting its soft power in international economic, scientific, and security institutions and arrangements.
—Deborah Wince-Smith, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Washington, having failed to convince Beijing to change its predatory economic policies or to move forward with an alternative trading bloc to counterbalance China, was left with one option: the United States had to become more like China.
—Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterbalance
Cite this Entry
“Counterbalance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterbalance. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
counterbalance
1 of 2 noun
coun·ter·bal·ance
ˈkau̇nt-ər-ˌbal-ən(t)s
ˌkau̇nt-ər-ˈbal-
1
: a weight that balances another
2
: a force or influence that checks an opposing force
counterbalance
2 of 2 verb
: to oppose or balance with an equal weight or force
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