Library / English Dictionary

COUNTERACT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Destroy property or hinder normal operations

Example:

The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war

Synonyms:

counteract; countermine; sabotage; subvert; undermine; weaken

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "counteract" is one way to...):

disobey (refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "counteract"):

derail (cause to run off the tracks)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions

Example:

This will counteract the foolish actions of my colleagues

Synonyms:

counteract; counterbalance; countervail; neutralize

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "counteract" is one way to...):

cancel; offset; set off (make up for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "counteract"):

override (counteract the normal operation of (an automatic gear shift in a vehicle))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

counteraction (action intended to nullify the effects of some previous action)

counteractive (opposing or neutralizing or mitigating an effect by contrary action)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Act in opposition to

Synonyms:

antagonise; antagonize; counteract

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "counteract" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 4

Meaning:

Oppose or check by a counteraction

Synonyms:

counteract; countercheck

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "counteract" is one way to...):

check; contain; control; curb; hold; hold in; moderate (lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

Losartan selectively and competitively binds to the angiotensin II receptor (type AT1) and blocks the binding of angiotensin II to the receptor, thus promoting vasodilatation and counteracting the effects of aldosterone.

(Losartan potassium, NCI Thesaurus)

This agent counteracts the toxic effects of other folic acid derivative agents, rescuing the patient while permitting the antitumor activity of the folate antagonist.

(Levoleucovorin Calcium, NCI Thesaurus)

Leucovorin calcium counteracts the toxic effects of these medications, 'rescuing' the patient while permitting the antitumor activity of the folate antagonist.

(Leucovorin calcium, NCI Thesaurus)

Leucovorin does not require metabolism by dihydrofolate reductase, the molecular target of folate antagonists and counteracts the toxic effects of these drugs.

(Leucovorin Sodium, NCI Thesaurus)

The quantity of walking exercise I took, was not in this respect attended with its usual consequence, as the disappointment counteracted the fresh air.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

This suggests that the effects of urbanisation on species are strong enough to counteract adaptations to other human influences such as invasive predators.

(A decade after the predators have gone, Galapagos Island finches are still being spooked, University of Cambridge)

Elinor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted her wishes with less reluctance than she had expected to feel.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Understanding the molecular changes that potentially take place in microgravity could help researchers to develop treatments and therapies to counteract physical changes associated with aging and extended bed rest.

(Roundworms have the Right Stuff, NASA)

Finding the child more docile and amiable than her sister, the old lady felt it her duty to try and counteract, as far as possible, the bad effects of home freedom and indulgence.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)