coun·ter·bal·ance
ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌba-lən(t)s 
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈba-
1
: a weight that balances another
2
: a force or influence that offsets or checks an opposing force
coun·ter·bal·ance
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈba-lən(t)s
ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌba-
counterbalanced; counterbalancing; counterbalances
1
: to oppose or balance with an equal weight or force
2
: to equip with counterbalances
Synonyms
Examples of counterbalance in a Sentence
Noun
charitable giving is usually a good counterbalance to the self-indulgent commercialism of the Christmas season
Verb
The author's wry humor counterbalances the book's serious subject matter.
a hearty dinner might counterbalance missing lunch
Recent Examples on the Web
Kyra Colah, Fox News, 29 Jan. 2025
Michaels’s businesslike calm was a counterbalance to the whirling egos and animosities that drove his employees.
—Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 3 Feb. 2025
Slightly bitter vegetables beautifully counterbalance any heartier dishes that might be on your banquet table.
—Megan Zhang, Saveur, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for counterbalance 
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Noun
Washington views India, the world's largest democracy, as a counterbalance to China's growing assertiveness.
—Kyra Colah, Fox News, 29 Jan. 2025
Michaels’s businesslike calm was a counterbalance to the whirling egos and animosities that drove his employees.
—Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence said the founding of Arbat in 2022 was an attempt to counterbalance the influence of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in the Russian private military company sector.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 3 Feb. 2025
Slightly bitter vegetables beautifully counterbalance any heartier dishes that might be on your banquet table.
—Megan Zhang, Saveur, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for counterbalance
Dictionary Entries Near counterbalance
Cite this Entry
“Counterbalance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterbalance. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
counterbalance
1 of 2 noun
coun·ter·bal·ance
ˈkau̇nt-ər-ˌbal-ən(t)s
ˌkau̇nt-ər-ˈbal-
1
: a weight that balances another
2
: a force or influence that checks an opposing force
counterbalance
2 of 2 verb
: to oppose or balance with an equal weight or force
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