Comprehensive
Dictionary Suite
Help
Help
Help
 
Advanced Dictionary      
Lookup History
counteract

coun·ter·act

counteract

 
pronunciation:
kaUn tr aekt
features:
Word Combinations (verb), Word Parts
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: counteracts, counteracting, counteracted
definition: to overcome or lessen the effect of through opposition or opposite action.
The antidote counteracted the poison.He counteracted their stubborn refusal with clever persuasion.Although it's a popular belief, coffee doesn't actually counteract the effects of alcohol.
 
synonyms:
countervail, neutralize
antonyms:
encourage, enhance, exacerbate
similar words:
annul, cancel, counterbalance, destroy, invalidate, negative, nullify, offset, oppose, overcome, rescind, reverse, undo
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: counteractive (adj.), counteraction (n.)
Word PartsSubscriber feature About this feature