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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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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Even if MoffettNathanson’s projections hold up and equilibrium is achieved between the traditional pay-TV operators and the skinny-bundle crowd, the number of homes that subscribe to either service will slip below the 50 million mark in just four years’ time.Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 10 Jan. 2025
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The authors ultimately identified two distinct forms of equilibrium that enable steady-state hula hooping: a synchronization process causing the hoop to twirl at the same frequency as the gyration motion, directing its center outward, and the hoop's vertical positioning.Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
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This law abolished the windfall elimination provision and government pension offset, which decreased payments for millions of Americans who worked in public service jobs like teachers, police officers and firefighters.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
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Everyone is talking about sustainability these days, from hotel chains eager to tout their eco-friendly practices to airlines promoting carbon offsets.Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This story has been corrected to show that Berkowitz works at Georgetown University, not George Washington University.CBS News, CBS News, 17 Jan. 2025
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This story has been updated to correct a typo in the size of OSTP’s budget.Kenneth Evans, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Mind you, his top-corner finish on the counter (below) came seconds after the match officials turned a blind eye to the most blatant foul inside Real’s box (above).Phil Hay, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
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And there are photos and videos of Piper in the kitchen — sitting on a counter dumping eggs into the bowl of a KitchenAid mixer and bouncing a pan of batter on the counter to knock out the air bubbles.Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Knicks went all-in on acquiring Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby to be the backbone of a defense capable of neutralizing elite perimeter scorers.Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2025
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Researchers have successfully designed two proteins to neutralize some of the most lethal venom toxins, using a suite of artificial intelligence tools, per a study published January 15 in the journal Nature.Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, borrowers have an average loan balance of 17 percent less than a decade ago at $27,100.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
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Learning how to ask for the appropriate level of direction that will meet that expectation without upsetting the task-giver can be a delicate balance.Expert Panel®, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The alliance, conceived as a counterweight to the Group of Seven, has seen steady growth.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
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Meanwhile, India is balancing its traditional solidarity with postcolonial countries against its desire to become a major military player loosely in the U.S. camp—a shift that has elevated its global standing as a counterweight to China.Matias Spektor, Foreign Affairs, 7 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 Jan. 2025.
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