countervailing

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/ˌkaʊntəˈveɪlɪŋ/

adjective

Compensating with equal force.

“countervailing duty”

Less commonScrabble 20

Meanings

adjectivecountervailing (comparative more countervailing, superlative most countervailing)

comparative more countervailing · superlative most countervailing

  1. formalCompensating with equal force.

    countervailing duty

    3 more examples

    For every attribute that encourages diversity and decentralization on the Web, there is a countervailing push toward homogeneity and concentration.

    2014, Astra Taylor, chapter 4, in The People's Platform: Taking Back Power and Culture in the Digital Age, Henry Holt and Company, →ISBN

    We need countervailing action soon. Every day brings evidence that the mere prospect of Brexit is damaging a British economy that is in enough trouble already.

    2017 July 16, William Keegan, “Election euphoria won’t last if Labour doesn’t foil Brexit folly”, in The Guardian

    Trump, Kayleigh McEnany said, “makes hiring decisions based on the fact that he likes to have countervailing viewpoints … he likes the model of having a ‘team of rivals’ like what we saw in President Lincoln’s administration”.

    2020 June 19, Martin Pengelly, quoting Kayleigh McEnany, “White House defends Bolton hiring as Trump administration tries to block book”, in The Guardian

    Synonyms: counteracting, counterbalancing

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of countervail

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveCompensating with equal force.

Cite this entry
APA

countervailing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/countervailing

MLA

“countervailing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/countervailing. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “countervailing,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/countervailing.

Source: countervailing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.