1. A weight that balances another weight
   "The elevator used a counterbalance to reduce energy consumption";
   - counterweight, counterpoise, balance, equalizer, equaliser [Brit]
    
2. A compensating equivalent
   "The extra hours worked served as a counterbalance to the time taken off";
   - offset
    
3. Equality of distribution
   "The designer achieved counterbalance in the room's layout";
   - balance, equilibrium, equipoise

1. Adjust for balance or equality
   "engineers will work to counterbalance the effects of air resistance";
   - compensate, correct, make up, even out, even off, even up
    
2. Contrast with equal weight or force
   "The pros counterbalanced the cons in our decision-making process";
   - oppose
    
3. Oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions
   "This will counterbalance the foolish actions of my colleagues";
   - counteract, countervail, neutralize, neutralise [Brit]

Derived forms: counterbalancing, counterbalanced, counterbalances

Type of: balance, cancel, compensation, construction, contrast, counterpoint, equilibrate, equilibrise [Brit], equilibrize, offset, set off, structure, weight

Encyclopedia: Counterbalance