counterpoise
1 of 2verb
coun·ter·poise ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌpȯiz 
counterpoised; counterpoising; counterpoises
transitive verb
: counterbalance
counterpoise
2 of 2noun
1
: counterbalance
2
: an equivalent power or force acting in opposition
3
: a state of balance
Synonyms
Verb
- annul
- cancel (out)
- compensate (for)
- correct
- counteract
- counterbalance
- make up (for)
- negative
- neutralize
- offset
Noun
- balance
- equilibration
- equilibrium
- equipoise
- poise
- stasis
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb her overall healthiness largely counterpoised the virulence of the infection Noun a musical piece with a counterpoise of loud and soft passages the happiness brought by a new baby was a timely counterpoise to the grief occasioned by a death in the family
Recent Examples on the Web
Matthew Yglesias, Vox, 29 Nov. 2018
Verb
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 Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English countrepesen, from Anglo-French contrepeser, from cuntre- + peser to weigh — more at poise
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
counterpoise 1 of 2
noun
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
Relevance
- equilibrium
- balance
- counterbalance
- equipoise
- equilibration
- poise
- stasis
- offset
- stability
- steadiness
- firmness
- fixedness
- security
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- imbalance
- unbalance
- disequilibrium
- instability
- nonequilibrium
- fluctuation
- volatility
- insecurity
- precariousness
- disequilibration
- unsteadiness
- mutability
- inconstancy
- changeability
- shakiness
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
- offset
- counter
- balance
- counterweight
- counterbalance
- corrective
- counterforce
- equipoise
- counteraction
- ballast
- canceler
- neutralizer
- canceller
- weight
- trade-off
counterpoise
2 of 2verb
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
- offset
- correct
- counterbalance
- neutralize
- outweigh
- counteract
- remedy
- annul
- relieve
- compensate (for)
- redress
- nullify
- cancel (out)
- make up (for)
- negative
- neuter
- invalidate
- outbalance
- negate
- redeem
- overrule
- atone (for)
- override