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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The calming formula is infused with an antioxidant-rich blend of mugwort, green tea, and panthenol to bring your skin back to a comfortable, irritation-free equilibrium.—
Devon Abelman,
Allure,
11 Feb. 2025
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After a certain period of time in deep water, the inert gases breathed in by a diver, or in this case, a sentinel resident, dissolve into body tissues and eventually reach an equilibrium with the pressure in their particular depth.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Senate's adoption is an early step in the process, which requires detailed work by committees to work out the details of spending, as well as of any offsets to help pay for the additional funds.—
Barbara Sprunt,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2025
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The latest: Although the scope of the offsets is not entirely clear, lobbyists and aides don't expect using major — or possibly any — health policy changes as payfors.—
Stef W. Kight,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In 2016 and 2019, the U.S. Marine Corps corrected the identities of two of the men in the photo, further fueling confusion.—
Sarah Holzmann,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 Feb. 2025
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Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also shrugged off some of the early stumbles, arguing that Musk and DOGE are committed to quickly correcting mistakes.—
Zac Anderson,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Although Perron in Stl or our own JVR in Philly would be a good counter arguments.—
Aaron Portzline,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
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The Nets’ offense continued to cool down early in the fourth quarter, turnovers began to pile up, and Philadelphia finally found its counter punch.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Antioxidants are substances that neutralize free radicals, preventing them from causing damage.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
21 Feb. 2025
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Mitochondria normally neutralize free radicals, but, when radiation injures them, this process becomes more difficult; the free radicals then damage mitochondrial DNA, and that weakens the mitochondria further.—
Dhruv Khullar,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Presented to the public in two segments, Lightfoot’s report showed the village went from having healthy budget balances to a multimillion-dollar deficit since Henyard was elected mayor.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
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After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
25 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
Cite this Entry
“Counterpoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpoise. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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