counterweights

noun

plural of counterweight
as in offsets
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective hard work can often be a counterweight to modest intelligence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 counterweights The shifting investments come as both parties make their final spending decisions in the battle for Senate control, with Democrats pointing to their candidates and the political environment as potential counterweights to Republican money. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 In other words, emotion, empathy and irrationality could be seen as some of the most powerful counterweights to AI. — Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026 Then, an optimization algorithm repeatedly rearranged the drone’s heavy essentials, such as the battery, the circuit board, and the counterweights. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026 Carbon fiber rods connect batteries, a controller, some counterweights, and a motor and propeller. — IEEE Spectrum, 16 July 2026 Built by the Mosler Safe Company in Ohio, the vault’s doors opened upward, activated by two massive counterweights that swung down at the press of a button. — Literary Hub, 13 May 2026 When clinicians practice this way, patients still seek out peers — but as companions, not counterweights. — Scott Hamilton, STAT, 4 Mar. 2026 When the executive presides over the legislative branch and retains veto authority, meaningful institutional counterweights can become harder to sustain. — Sara Albrecht, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026 Each tram has eight passenger cars and is powered by a typical heavy-duty elevator mechanism with cables, counterweights, etc. — Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterweights
  1. offsets
  2. counters
  3. balances
  4. correctives
  5. counterbalances
Noun
  • Stifel analyst Peter McGoldrick, who covers athletics, footwear and lifestyle brands, noted that elevated input costs is likely to impact margin pressure for the 2027 calendar year before offsets.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Chinese Money Plant Chinese money plants (Pilea peperomioides) often produce offsets or baby plants, which are easy to divide and repot into their own containers.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of offsets
Noun
  • Dupe culture started at beauty counters and in TikTok hauls, and it’s officially landed in the grocery aisle.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Old food debris was found on all the prep counters, refrigerators and cooking refrigerators.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of counters
Noun
  • No federal or state law requires medical providers to turn patients with outstanding balances over to collections.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Revolut said on its website that several of its services were partially unavailable, including card payments, topping up balances via bank cards, ATM withdrawals and currency exchange.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of balances
Noun
  • The need for correctives is extensive, and the work is well under way.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
  • These are all refreshing correctives to the texts that previously stood in for contemporary Japan internationally, including any number of small volumes about magical cafés, bookshops, or libraries, often with cats on their covers.
    — Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
Definition of correctives
Noun
  • Leeds is in the zone here, and because most of the tracks are about the same length and there are no ambient interludes or pop-length counterbalances, the album’s lengthy runtime ends up sliding by pretty easily.
    — Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of counterbalances

Browse Nearby Words

counterweight
counterweights
countess
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Cite this Entry

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

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