counterbalanced

verb

past tense of counterbalance
as in offset
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective a hearty dinner might counterbalance missing lunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of counterbalanced Smoky mezcal and amaro, counterbalanced with sweet almond on the back of the tongue. — Amanda Lee Koe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Of course, drug development is high risk, with the potential for big returns counterbalanced by the products and companies that flop. — Avalon Pernell, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 Gaines assured weepy parents that those feelings are counterbalanced by watching your children thrive. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026 Yet this is counterbalanced by the $60 billion windfall that American oil producers could earn if prices remain high. — Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2026 Designed by group collaborator and designer Dorothee Meilichzon, the rooms’ whimsical stylings are cleverly counterbalanced with classic details like parquet flooring, white walls and linens, and light wood. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2026 Those losses were then counterbalanced by a road victory against Butler at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse and a third straight win over NCAA Tournament shoo-in Saint Mary’s in Idaho Falls. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026 This is counterbalanced by Coach, Colby, and Joe linking up to form the Super Tough, Very Muscular, All Integrity, No Lying Man Squad, No Girlz Allowed. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026 The researchers counterbalanced the Casimir effect with a force generated by a flux. — Quanta Magazine, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterbalanced
  1. offset
  2. neutralized
  3. corrected
Verb
  • This cycle of price increases serves not only to offset immediate fuel price spikes, but also to make up for unadjusted pricing power lost in recent years due to flight overcapacity, fare suppression, and persistent inflation.
    — , CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But private developers and homeowners will want higher rents to offset their investments, especially because construction and labor costs have skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of offset
Verb
  • Nearly four hours were spent neutralized behind the safety car, with 16 cautions that prevented this year’s race from ever really developing a rhythm.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
  • During last month's Águila Alta operation in the Tijuana-San Diego area, the defense ministry said Mexican forces neutralized five drones, detained one person and seized a gun, magazines and ammunition.
    — Armando Regil Velasco, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of neutralized
Verb
  • This was a violation at the opening inspection and was to be corrected prior to opening.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Politico corrected a report from last week on the role that Donald Trump‘s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles played preceding the exit of Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of corrected

Browse Nearby Words

counterbalance
counterbalanced
counterbalances
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counterbalanced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterbalanced. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All