counteract
verb
coun·ter·act
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈakt 
counteracted; counteracting; counteracts
: 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
Synonyms
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
Research released last month by the University of Maryland's Center for Global Sustainability found that strong action by states and cities could counteract climate rollbacks at the federal level and achieve deep cuts in emissions.
—
John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
As scholars of group dynamics, Samantha Moore-Berg and I have been trying to find strategies that could counteract this toxic polarization, which poses a real threat to the health of American democracy.
—Michael Pasek, The Conversation, 21 Jan. 2025
Tech and finance companies will ratchet up hiring in 2025 for a much simpler reason, Bean adds: to counteract the layoffs and conservative hiring that defined these two industries in 2023 and 2024.
—Morgan Smith, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2025
The other difficulty is that US copyright protections prevent anyone but John Deere from making software that counteracts the restrictions the company has put on its platform.
—Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for counteract 
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John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
As scholars of group dynamics, Samantha Moore-Berg and I have been trying to find strategies that could counteract this toxic polarization, which poses a real threat to the health of American democracy.
—Michael Pasek, The Conversation, 21 Jan. 2025
Tech and finance companies will ratchet up hiring in 2025 for a much simpler reason, Bean adds: to counteract the layoffs and conservative hiring that defined these two industries in 2023 and 2024.
—Morgan Smith, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2025
The other difficulty is that US copyright protections prevent anyone but John Deere from making software that counteracts the restrictions the company has put on its platform.
—Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for counteract
Dictionary Entries Near counteract
Cite this Entry
“Counteract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counteract. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
counteract
verb
coun·ter·act
ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈrakt
: to lessen the force, action, or influence of : offset
a drug that counteracts a poison
Medical Definition
counteract
transitive verb
coun·ter·act
ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈrakt
: to make ineffective or restrain or neutralize the usually ill effects of by an opposite force
vitamin K counteracts the effects of warfarin
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