as in counter
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
the belief that higher interest rates are an effective counterforce to inflationary pressures
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Recent Examples of counterforce
Achieving peace in Gaza will therefore require a counterforce to Israel’s domestic political pressures.
—
Eric Levitz, Vox, 3 June 2024
The idea is for two pylons to be attached to a special structure on the tower with cables that are expected to exert a counterforce should the tower start tipping more dangerously.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Lynch’s portrayal of Rita — a fiercely independent woman with a strong sense of her beliefs — is inspired, a quiet, grounding counterforce to Ben-Adir’s moodier depiction.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Feb. 2024
First was the possibility that the United States was building new conventional weapons that could be used to attack China’s nuclear forces, a strategy known as conventional counterforce.
—M. Taylor Fravel, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for counterforce
Eric Levitz, Vox, 3 June 2024
The idea is for two pylons to be attached to a special structure on the tower with cables that are expected to exert a counterforce should the tower start tipping more dangerously.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Lynch’s portrayal of Rita — a fiercely independent woman with a strong sense of her beliefs — is inspired, a quiet, grounding counterforce to Ben-Adir’s moodier depiction.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Feb. 2024
First was the possibility that the United States was building new conventional weapons that could be used to attack China’s nuclear forces, a strategy known as conventional counterforce.
—M. Taylor Fravel, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for counterforce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterforce
Noun
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Hodges and Cruz were waiting in the sandwich line at the deli counter at Joe’s Grocery, on Lenox Ave.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2025
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LEDs under the bathroom counter or cabinets and over the bathroom vanity can also provide ideal night lighting.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2025
Noun
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The 15% offset is calculated from your total benefit amount before any deductions, such as your Medicare premium, Kantrowitz said.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
1 June 2025
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The Joint Committee on Taxation, the official revenue scorer for Congress, estimates the tax components will add $3.7 trillion to the deficit over the next decade after offsets are calculated.—
Elizabeth Crisp,
The Hill,
25 May 2025
Noun
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Spain's housing crisis highlights the delicate balance between tourism and residents, particularly in popular tourist destinations.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Hwang, who represents Fairfield, said the bill strikes the right balance between the interests of towers and consumers.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterforce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterforce. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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