What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
counteracted
Example
The medication counteracted the side effects of the treatment. [counteracted: verb]
Example
The company's efforts to reduce waste were counteracted by their increased production. [counteracted: past tense]
counterbalanced
Example
The heavy book on one side of the scale was counterbalanced by several smaller books on the other side. [counterbalanced: verb]
Example
The team's strong defense counterbalanced their weaker offense. [counterbalanced: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Counteracted is more commonly used than counterbalanced in everyday language. Counteracted is often used in medical or scientific contexts, while counterbalanced is more commonly used in discussions of balance or equilibrium.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between counteracted and counterbalanced?
Both counteracted and counterbalanced are formal words that are appropriate for use in academic or professional contexts. However, counteracted may be slightly more formal due to its association with scientific or technical language.
