counteract
verb
coun·ter·act
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈakt 
counteracted; counteracting; counteracts
: to make ineffective or restrain or neutralize the usually ill effects of by means of an opposite force, action, or influence
a drug used to counteract fatigue
Examples of counteract in a Sentence
The drug will counteract the poison.
this medication will counteract the symptoms but it won't kill the infection
Recent Examples on the Web
Dryness is a common issue that spikes during this time of the year, and, of course, hydrating serums and moisturizers will help counteract it.
—
Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
Normally, the only way to counteract this would be to use a binocular tripod or have the world’s stillest hands.
—Harry Bennett, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2026
First, the city must spread the word that combating these frauds and teaming up with whistleblowers is a priority, thus counteracting the perception that the city and its victim agencies are often uninterested in these claims.
—Randall Fox, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2026
These counteracted the impact of tariffs on prices overall.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
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Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Jan. 2026
Normally, the only way to counteract this would be to use a binocular tripod or have the world’s stillest hands.
—Harry Bennett, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2026
First, the city must spread the word that combating these frauds and teaming up with whistleblowers is a priority, thus counteracting the perception that the city and its victim agencies are often uninterested in these claims.
—Randall Fox, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2026
These counteracted the impact of tariffs on prices overall.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counteract
Cite this Entry
“Counteract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counteract. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
counteract
verb
coun·ter·act
ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈrakt
: to lessen the force, action, or influence of : offset
a drug that counteracts a poison
Medical Definition
counteract
transitive verb
coun·ter·act
ˌkau̇nt-ə-ˈrakt
: to make ineffective or restrain or neutralize the usually ill effects of by an opposite force
vitamin K counteracts the effects of warfarin
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