as in counter
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
the belief that higher interest rates are an effective counterforce to inflationary pressures
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Recent Examples of counterforce
The only country that currently has enough nuclear weapons to conceivably launch a counterforce strike against the United States is Russia, so USA TODAY based its weapons analysis on Moscow’s nuclear arsenal.
—
Davis Winkie, USA Today, 6 Jan. 2026
In view of these drawbacks, a better approach would be to adapt the current counterforce strategy for the new era.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Or maybe fast-food chains did streamline their business processes with the help of new technologies, but at the same time, maybe there were productivity-sucking counterforces.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 18 Mar. 2025
While offering no such counterforce, U.S. miners and engineers would offer juicy targets for Russian special forces or pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine who are disgruntled with Kyiv or U.S. mining efforts.
—William Walldorf, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterforce
Davis Winkie, USA Today, 6 Jan. 2026
In view of these drawbacks, a better approach would be to adapt the current counterforce strategy for the new era.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Or maybe fast-food chains did streamline their business processes with the help of new technologies, but at the same time, maybe there were productivity-sucking counterforces.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 18 Mar. 2025
While offering no such counterforce, U.S. miners and engineers would offer juicy targets for Russian special forces or pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine who are disgruntled with Kyiv or U.S. mining efforts.
—William Walldorf, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterforce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterforce
Noun
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The two sisters entered the restaurant, ran behind the counter and attacked the 23-year-old employee after they were given a wrong order, prosecutors said, according to the outlet.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
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Cole is taken to that side of the room by the gurney and behind a long counter near what appears to be a medical supply cart.—
Penny Weaver,
Arkansas Online,
15 June 2026
Noun
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This automatically measures the distance between the edges of the folding panels, uses sensors to detect offsets and recalibrates the brightness of adjacent LEDs to hide the tiny slot.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 June 2026
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The traditional approach to ESG reporting tended to involve buying carbon offsets in bulk, taking a supplier's ethical sourcing spreadsheet at face value, or reviewing documentation months after the activity in question had already happened.—
Sean Stein Smith,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
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Investigators are also looking at factors such as weight and balance, fuel, maintenance history and overall airworthiness as part of the probe, Graham said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
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At the same time, Kamoutsas said the amendment balances giving children a rigorous classroom instruction with giving parents the option to expose their children to religious instruction.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Paint can also be a powerful corrective.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Mar. 2026
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These are all refreshing correctives to the texts that previously stood in for contemporary Japan internationally, including any number of small volumes about magical cafés, bookshops, or libraries, often with cats on their covers.—
Sarah Chihaya,
New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counterforce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterforce. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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