countervail Definition
- 1to act or react with equal force; counteract.
- 2to compensate for or offset (something) by exerting an opposite force or effect.
Using countervail: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "countervail" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The benefits of the new policy countervail the costs.
Example
The company's profits countervailed the losses from the previous quarter.
Example
The government is trying to countervail the negative effects of climate change.
countervail Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for countervail
- offset
- counterbalance
- neutralize
- cancel out
- compensate for
Phrases with countervail
the ability of a group or organization to exert influence in opposition to another group or organization
Example
The labor union has countervailing power against the management.
a tax imposed on imported goods to offset subsidies provided by the exporting country to its producers
Example
The government imposed countervailing duties on steel imports from China.
an opposing argument that balances or negates another argument
Example
The lawyer presented a countervailing argument to refute the prosecution's case.
Origins of countervail
from Middle French 'contrevaloir', from Latin 'contra-' meaning 'against' + 'valere' meaning 'be strong'
Summary: countervail in Brief
'Countervail' [koun-ter-veyl] means to counteract or offset something by exerting an opposite force or effect. It is often used to describe how one thing compensates for or neutralizes another, as in 'The benefits of the new policy countervail the costs.' The term also extends into phrases like 'countervailing power,' which refers to the ability of a group or organization to exert influence in opposition to another group or organization.
