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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of counterforce
Achieving peace in Gaza will therefore require a counterforce to Israel’s domestic political pressures.
—
Eric Levitz, Vox, 3 June 2024
The idea is for two pylons to be attached to a special structure on the tower with cables that are expected to exert a counterforce should the tower start tipping more dangerously.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Lynch’s portrayal of Rita — a fiercely independent woman with a strong sense of her beliefs — is inspired, a quiet, grounding counterforce to Ben-Adir’s moodier depiction.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Feb. 2024
First was the possibility that the United States was building new conventional weapons that could be used to attack China’s nuclear forces, a strategy known as conventional counterforce.
—M. Taylor Fravel, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for counterforce
Eric Levitz, Vox, 3 June 2024
The idea is for two pylons to be attached to a special structure on the tower with cables that are expected to exert a counterforce should the tower start tipping more dangerously.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Lynch’s portrayal of Rita — a fiercely independent woman with a strong sense of her beliefs — is inspired, a quiet, grounding counterforce to Ben-Adir’s moodier depiction.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Feb. 2024
First was the possibility that the United States was building new conventional weapons that could be used to attack China’s nuclear forces, a strategy known as conventional counterforce.
—M. Taylor Fravel, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for counterforce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterforce
Noun
-
Blue Stone counters and Thermador appliances trail the space with Sailor Blue cabinetry, too, ahead of an area that seats four by coastline views.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
18 May 2025
-
Separate each type of flower and greenery into small vases or jars with water, then line them on the counter to create your floral bar.—
Andrea Beck,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
But markets are betting that making the 2017 tax cuts permanent as well as eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, with only partial revenue offsets, will aggravate the fiscal problems.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
21 May 2025
-
Those efforts and the pandemic pause significantly reduced the number of seniors facing offsets.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
Understanding and respecting your partner’s preferred method of recharging is essential for emotional balance within the relationship.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
-
Executives then built portfolios of projects and identified combinations that would deliver the best balance between return and risk.—
Tim Koller,
Time,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterforce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterforce. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share