counterweight
noun
coun·ter·weight
ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌwāt 
: an equivalent weight or force : counterbalance
counterweight
transitive verb
Examples of counterweight in a Sentence
The crane has a heavy counterweight on the back.
hard work can often be a counterweight to modest intelligence
Recent Examples on the Web
In December, Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland — motivated by the territory’s strategic position along the Red Sea as a potential counterweight to Iran and the Houthis, and framed by Netanyahu as being in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.
—
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Xi’s unwillingness or inability to intervene in events so far from home seems to be harming China’s reputation as a geopolitical counterweight to the United States.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Other items from the ship, including the ballasts that served as counterweights for the human cargo, are remaining on display and will be returned to South Africa in two years.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
Other items from the ship, including the ballasts that served as counterweights for the human cargo, are remaining on display and will be returned to South Africa in two years.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterweight
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.
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Xi’s unwillingness or inability to intervene in events so far from home seems to be harming China’s reputation as a geopolitical counterweight to the United States.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Other items from the ship, including the ballasts that served as counterweights for the human cargo, are remaining on display and will be returned to South Africa in two years.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
Other items from the ship, including the ballasts that served as counterweights for the human cargo, are remaining on display and will be returned to South Africa in two years.
—ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterweight
Cite this Entry
“Counterweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterweight. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
counterweight
noun
coun·ter·weight
ˈkau̇nt-ər-ˌwāt
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
