Counteract: meaning, definitions and examples
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counteract
[ ˌkaʊn.tərˈækt ]
Mitigate effects
To counteract means to act against something in order to reduce its force or neutralize its effects. This term is often used in contexts where one action is taken to diminish or negate the impact of another. It can refer to physical actions or to more abstract ideas, such as policies or strategies. The goal of counteracting is typically to restore balance or to improve a situation that has been adversely affected.
Synonyms
combat, counterbalance, neutralize, offset
Examples of usage
- The medication is designed to counteract the side effects of the treatment.
- To counteract the impact of climate change, many countries are investing in renewable energy.
- They implemented strategies to counteract the economic downturn.
Translations
Translations of the word "counteract" in other languages:
🇵🇹 contrabalançar
🇮🇳 प्रतिकार करना
🇩🇪 entgegenwirken
🇮🇩 melawan
🇺🇦 протидіяти
🇵🇱 przeciwdziałać
🇯🇵 対抗する
🇫🇷 contrebalancer
🇪🇸 contrarrestar
🇹🇷 karşı koymak
🇰🇷 대항하다
🇸🇦 مواجهة
🇨🇿 působit proti
🇸🇰 pôsobit proti
🇨🇳 对抗
🇸🇮 nasprotovati
🇮🇸 mótmæla
🇰🇿 қарсы шығу
🇬🇪 წინააღმდეგობა
🇦🇿 qarşı durmaq
🇲🇽 contrarrestar
Etymology
The word 'counteract' originates from the Latin word 'contra,' meaning 'against,' and the Old French word 'acte,' meaning 'an act.' It has been in use in English since the late 15th century. The term evolved through the influence of both Latin and French, emphasizing the idea of taking action 'against' something else. Over the centuries, 'counteract' has found its way into various contexts, including medicine, environmental science, and everyday language as a way to describe the effort to mitigate negative consequences or to restore equilibrium. The versatility of this term allows it to be used in both literal and figurative situations, making it a common choice in discussions related to causality and response.