as in offset
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
hard work can often be a counterweight to modest intelligence
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Recent Examples of counterweight
Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray and Brendan Donovan are gone, but the counterweight is the wave that’s supposed to replace them.
—
Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
In literary translation, the term compensation refers to a moment where something lost in one part of the text is recouped elsewhere — not through direct replacement, but through a kind of interpretive counterweight.
—Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
By 2025, Iran joined the BRICS alliance — an international organization founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as a counterweight to NATO expansion.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 8 Mar. 2026
It was suggested that artists should stay away from politics because films are a counterweight to politics.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterweight
Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
In literary translation, the term compensation refers to a moment where something lost in one part of the text is recouped elsewhere — not through direct replacement, but through a kind of interpretive counterweight.
—Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
By 2025, Iran joined the BRICS alliance — an international organization founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as a counterweight to NATO expansion.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 8 Mar. 2026
It was suggested that artists should stay away from politics because films are a counterweight to politics.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterweight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterweight
Noun
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However, even with increasing emissions, the largest companies should be able to afford enough renewable energy and offsets to meet carbon-neutral goals.—
Tammy Webber,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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However, even with increasing emissions, the largest companies should be able to afford enough renewable energy and offsets to meet carbon-neutral goals.—
Tammy Webber,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Another admitted to brushing crumbs into the gap between the stove and counter as a child—only to be caught and made to pull the appliance out and deep-clean the entire area.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Shadow boxes are sometimes displayed on a counter or table due to the challenge of hanging the extra depth on a wall.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Today’s Libra full moon helps you to restore balance.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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And while the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved covering the overrun, most of which will come from the county's unrestricted fund balance, frustration is clearly building.—
Ubah Ali,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But the audacity to make a movie with such an unlikable character, and to counter that, to cast it with someone everyone seems to like [Timothée Chalamet] as Dylan was a nice counterbalance.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
13 Mar. 2026
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Engineers have developed a simple strategy to help robots remain stable while repairing satellites in orbit by using a second robotic arm to counterbalance movements.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 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
“Counterweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterweight. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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