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
counterpoising
verb
as in offsetting
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective her overall healthiness largely counterpoised the virulence of the infection Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- offsetting
- correcting
- neutralizing
- counterbalancing
- outweighing
- counteracting
- cancelling (out)
- canceling (out)
- compensating (for)
- relieving
- making up (for)
- remedying
- annulling
- outbalancing
- invalidating
- redeeming
- nullifying
- negativing
- neutering
- atoning (for)
- negating
- redressing
- overruling
- overriding