1
as in equilibrium
a condition in which opposing forces are equal to one another
a musical piece with a counterpoise of loud and soft passages
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in offset
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
the happiness brought by a new baby was a timely counterpoise to the grief occasioned by a death in the family
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to offset
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective
her overall healthiness largely counterpoised the virulence of the infection
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterpoise
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023
What’s most remarkable about Torruella’s film is its counterpoise between the sense of raging injustice and the island’s mystic stillness.
—Amada Torruella, The New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2023
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023
Conflicts of interest are objective situations that arise when a person’s financial interests can be counterpoised to their public responsibilities.
—Matthew Yglesias, Vox, 29 Nov. 2018
Noun
Molina, the embodiment of theatrical excellence, is perfectly cast as the rational counterpoise to Brady’s zealotry.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023
What’s most remarkable about Torruella’s film is its counterpoise between the sense of raging injustice and the island’s mystic stillness.
—Amada Torruella, The New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2023
Verb
Indeed, the Western, that peculiarly American contribution to the world’s store of epic and saga, often depends on the tale of a defeated Confederate at large to enforce virtue, someone whose heroic individualism is counterpoised with the superficial discipline of the federal troops.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023
Conflicts of interest are objective situations that arise when a person’s financial interests can be counterpoised to their public responsibilities.
—Matthew Yglesias, Vox, 29 Nov. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterpoise
Noun
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Often, our everyday stressors feel never-ending, and the return to equilibrium becomes less than breezy.—
Marie Bladt,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2025
-
With Biden, the vice presidency seemed to return to a more appropriate equilibrium after Cheney’s extraordinary tenure.—
Roy Brownell,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Also, when airlines offer to sell you carbon offsets, your dollars don’t actually go toward slashing emissions from your flight.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Feb. 2025
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Social Security benefit offsets could resume as early as August.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Editor’s note: Bob Stark’s title has been corrected to global head of enablement. Send me a secure tip.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes,
11 Feb. 2025
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The DoJ has now corrected the error in subsequent legal filings.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This means that extras like roller attachments aren’t always parallel with the counter, causing pasta sheets to roll out unevenly and snag easily.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appétit,
11 Feb. 2025
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Guests would offer up eyewitness stories on Bell’s show about alien counters, past lives, time travel and more X-File-like situations.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Its key trio of lactic acid, glycerin, and urea not only counteracts the look of crepey skin, but also neutralizes any irritation for some soothing relief.—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
8 Feb. 2025
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Your healthcare provider may recommend or prescribe: Antacids: OTC antacids, such as Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) and Tums (calcium carbonate), neutralize the effects of stomach acids to provide quick, short-term pain relief.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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But there’s another, more promising option for budget goals: structural balance targets that tie the spending and revenue trends together.—
Kurt Couchman,
National Review,
11 Feb. 2025
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While markers of bone growth improved in both groups, only the vest set gained better balance.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The two-speed, belt-drive turntable features an aluminum platter, adjustable counterweight and anti-skate control, an Audio-Technica ATN3600L cartridge and a chunky MDF plinth in a walnut finish.—
Brad Moon,
Forbes,
8 Dec. 2024
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Indeed, PBMs are a natural counterweight to big drug companies that typically charge whatever the market can bear for their products.—
Christiaan Hetzner,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near counterpoise
Cite this Entry
“Counterpoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpoise. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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