countervail

verb

coun·​ter·​vail ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈvāl 

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

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

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