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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterforce
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
In many ways, the logic of a counterforce strategy parallels the logic of traditional military strategy.
—Charles L. Glaser, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for counterforce
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
In many ways, the logic of a counterforce strategy parallels the logic of traditional military strategy.
—Charles L. Glaser, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for counterforce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterforce
Noun
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When Garza went inside the store and took at least one lighter from the counter, the clerk came outside armed with a handgun to confront Garza, who crouched by the puddle of kerosene and either threatened to light it or attempted to light it, Hodges said.—
Grant Lancaster,
Arkansas Online,
22 Apr. 2025
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Pharmacy counters will be closed at Rite Aid on Easter but the retail portion of their stores will be open regular hours, a company spokesperson told USA TODAY.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Individuals employed by the government in jobs which were not covered by Social Security previously could not collect Social Security upon retirement because of the offset of their public pension against Social Security to prevent a windfall.—
Wendy Hickey,
Boston Herald,
13 Apr. 2025
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That process may be referred to as offsetting the payment, administrative offset, or offset.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The soon-to-be 23-year-old displayed impressive contact balance and routinely churned out additional yards after being hit, but his workload in college (879 carries in five years) raises questions about his long-term outlook in the NFL. 191.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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On balance this leads to a more stable, efficient, cheaper, and cleaner power grid.—
Umair Irfan,
Wired News,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterforce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterforce. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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