counteract

verb

coun·​ter·​act ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈakt How to pronounce counteract (audio)
counteracted; counteracting; counteracts

transitive verb

: to make ineffective or restrain or neutralize the usually ill effects of by means of an opposite force, action, or influence
a drug used to counteract fatigue
counteraction noun
counteractive adjective

Examples of counteract in a Sentence

The drug will counteract the poison. this medication will counteract the symptoms but it won't kill the infection
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Others at the club would counteract that view, insisting that people understand what Ratcliffe is trying to do and why. Adam Crafton, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024 As the load approaches the inner walls of the backpack, the dampener will adjust just enough to counteract the weight shift, stopping the load from colliding with the outer shell of the backpack. IEEE Spectrum, 19 Dec. 2024 Some people respond well to approaches to counteract genetic hair loss, including topical therapies, lasers, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, and hair transplants.8 To understand your options, talk to a healthcare provider specializing in hair restoration. Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 11 Dec. 2024 To counteract banner blindness, marketers turned to native ads, which seamlessly integrate with the content and style of a website to create more cohesion, raising the standards of ad design and placement. Sergii Denysenko, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for counteract 

Word History

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counteract was in 1655

Dictionary Entries Near counteract

Cite this Entry

“Counteract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counteract. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

counteract

verb
coun·​ter·​act ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈrakt How to pronounce counteract (audio)
: to lessen the force, action, or influence of : offset
a drug that counteracts a poison
counteraction noun

Medical Definition

counteract

transitive verb
coun·​ter·​act ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈrakt How to pronounce counteract (audio)
: to make ineffective or restrain or neutralize the usually ill effects of by an opposite force
vitamin K counteracts the effects of warfarin
counteraction noun

More from Merriam-Webster on counteract

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