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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterpoise
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
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
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
That’s more than just a defeat; that is institutional counterpoise against the attempt by the president to corrupt institutions.
—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
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 clock is ticking, again, and their resources and equilibrium have dwindled, again.
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But Claire has her limits from the lopsided equilibrium — Libras bounce when the romantic balance is off-kilter.
Noun
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Micron fees ‘offset’ planning costs Micron announced its Boise investment in September 2022, just as the city was wrapping up its fiscal year.
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Unlike private debts, these types of federal debts can sometimes result in benefit offsets or other collection actions.
Verb
-
Hiltz gushed about how other athletes will correct anyone who misgenders Hiltz.
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Along with the main shades in the lineup, there are seven color-correcting options that neutralize, brighten, and leave skin looking more refined.
Noun
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The family opted instead for a grill and small fridge, with a wood counter built around it to give a cohesive look.
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Line dance at lunch The line inside Boss Hog on Tuesday stretched from the ordering counter to the entrance, which isn’t saying much since, according to Catawba County property records, the entire building is about 1,200 square feet.
Verb
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Another contractor was brought in to neutralize the green growth using nanobubble technology, which did cut back some of the green growth, but may have led to the new blue finish peeling off the bottom of the pool.
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That legitimate gap does not, however, neutralize the resistance risk their products carry.
Noun
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The shape of the heel with a wider base provides more support, providing significantly more stability, balance, and weight distribution than traditional slim or stiletto heels.
-
Globally, the top concern is work-life balance, specifically when job demands consistently exceed the time and energy workers have to meet them.
Noun
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Newsom and Democratic leaders have argued that their plans are fiscally responsible and a counterweight to cuts and other policy choices pushed by the president and his administration.
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But there’s a necessary balancing act between eyeing the future and embracing the past, which makes said future possible — and that’s where a place like this comes in, as a counterweight to the eternal pursuit of what’s next.
Noun
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Officials argue that graduate debt accounts for more than one-third of the federal student loan portfolio, making tightening limits a necessary fiscal corrective.
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Paint can also be a powerful corrective.
Cite this Entry
“Counterpoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpoise. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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