countervail

verb

coun·​ter·​vail ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈvāl How to pronounce countervail (audio)
countervailed; countervailing; countervails

transitive verb

1
: to compensate for
2
archaic : equal, match
3
: to exert force against : counteract

intransitive verb

: to exert force against an opposing and often bad or harmful force or influence

Examples of countervail in a Sentence

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.
Across the town, there’s despair and creative destruction and all sorts of countervailing indicators. Josef Adalian, Vulture, 6 June 2023 But as the debt ceiling deadline nears, McCarthy may face countervailing pressure to compromise as well. Paul Kane, Washington Post, 24 May 2023 But if innovation is happening at speed, countervailing regulation is also gathering momentum. David Meyer, Fortune, 11 May 2023 And how do these countervailing forces shape personal identity? Julia M. Klein, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for countervail 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English countrevailen, from Anglo-French cuntrevaloir, from cuntre- counter- + valoir to be worth, from Latin valēre — more at wield

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of countervail was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near countervail

Cite this Entry

“Countervail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/countervail. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on countervail

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!