counteract Definition
- 1act against (something) in order to reduce its force or neutralize it
- 2prevent (something) from having an effect
Using counteract: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "counteract" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Drinking water can counteract the effects of dehydration.
Example
The new policy is intended to counteract rising inflation.
Example
She took medicine to counteract the allergic reaction.
Example
The company is taking steps to counteract negative publicity.
counteract Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for counteract
Phrases with counteract
counteract someone's influence
to work against or oppose someone's power or authority
Example
The opposition party is trying to counteract the president's influence.
to take action to prevent or solve a problem
Example
The government is implementing measures to counteract the economic crisis.
to present evidence or reasoning that opposes or undermines an argument
Example
The lawyer tried to counteract the prosecution's argument with new evidence.
Origins of counteract
from Latin 'contra-' meaning 'against' + 'actio' meaning 'a doing'
Summary: counteract in Brief
The verb 'counteract' [ˌkaʊntərˈækt] means to act against something in order to reduce its force or prevent it from having an effect. It can be used in various contexts, such as countering the effects of dehydration or negative publicity. Phrases like 'counteract someone's influence' and 'counteract an argument' denote opposing or undermining power or reasoning. 'Counteract' is a formal term that can be replaced by 'neutralize' or 'offset.'
