counteract

Everyday

To act against something so that it has less effect or no effect: «Exercise helps counteract sitting all day». tree →

In the lessons

In science and health, medicines counteract poisons or pain; an alkali counteracts (neutralises) an acid, as when toothpaste counteracts acids that harm teeth or bicarbonate soothes a bee sting. In everyday talk, people counteract bad habits with good ones. Phrases: «counteract the effects of», «counteract a poison».

Examples

• The doctor gave him a medicine to counteract the poison. tree →
• Toothpaste helps counteract the acids that damage your teeth. tree →
• Drinking water counteracts the hot weather's drying effect. tree →
• Planting trees can help counteract air pollution. tree →
• A short walk can counteract hours of sitting at a screen. tree →
• An alkali counteracts an acid. tree →
• ‘They would have disappeared completely,’ said the pretended doctor, ‘if there did not exist something to counteract the effect. tree →

Note

Spelled as one word: counteract (counter + act). Stress on the last part: coun-ter-ACT. Noun: counteraction (rare). Similar: offset, neutralise, cancel out. «Counter» means «against», as in «counterattack».