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⚖️ An opposing force 🎯 Military targeting ↔️ To oppose force
to counterforce

to counterforce

7.2
To use a force that pushes back against another force
  • verb
  • /ˈkaʊntərˌfɔrs/
translation icon : contrarrestar
  • To maintain stability, the army plans to counterforce any potential attacks with defensive measures.

Examples

  • In that recognition, he is not alone among those nuclear strategists who favor assured retaliation to counterforce damage-limiting strategies.

    Academic text (1995)

  • - We'll counterforce.

    The Sum of All Fears (2002)

  • The engineers developed a system that can counterforce unpredictable fluctuations in pressure.

  • In sports, players often counterforce their opponents' moves to regain control of the game.

Synonyms

to oppose
vsto counterforce
∞ 2.9

To be against something and try to stop it

involves applying resisting force specifically to cancel another force
to counter
vsto counterforce
190 4.3

To respond by acting against something

is about applying resisting force specifically against another force
to push back
vsto counterforce
97 3.9

Force a person or thing to move backward in body and feeling

places emphasis on opposing force applied to neutralize another force
to deflect
vsto counterforce
76 4.6

To turn attention away from a person or thing

uses opposing force to cancel influence rather than merely redirecting it
to counteract
vsto counterforce
47 4.8

To act against something to reduce its effect

applies a direct opposing force rather than a general action
to repel
vsto counterforce
21 4.2

Make someone or something move back and stay away, often by using force

focuses on opposing force used to cancel an influence rather than only push
to force back
vsto counterforce
10 4.9

Make people or things move backward by using strength and stop feelings by holding them back

is about resisting with opposing force to cancel effects rather than only moving back
to countervail
vsto counterforce
  • Formal
4 9.3

To act against something to reduce its effect

emphasizes applying opposing force rather than abstract balancing
to rebuff
vsto counterforce
3 7.9

To drive back an attack or enemy force

concerns resisting force aimed at neutralizing another force rather than only defense
to counterweight
vsto counterforce
1 5.7

To balance something by adding weight or cancelling its effect

emphasizes applying opposing force to actively cancel an effect
to counterpoise
vsto counterforce
1 9.8

To balance something by acting against it

involves using force to resist and cancel rather than only balance
to countercheck
vsto counterforce
8.6

To act against something to stop or limit it

uses physical opposing force specifically to cancel another force
to counterwork
vsto counterforce
8.2

Act against something to stop or slow it

focuses on applying resisting force to neutralize another force
to counterpose
vsto counterforce
8.4

To act as a balance against a strong opposite force

is more about applying active opposing force rather than passive balance

Antonyms

to submit
187 4.1

To accept another person's control, often against your wishes

How Strong

to overwhelm
42 4.0
to counterforce
7.2
to counter
190 4.3
to oppose
∞ 2.9

Surface Forms

counterforce infinitive
counterforced past
counterforced past participle
counterforcing present participle
counterforces third person singular

Etymology

Counterforce as a verb uses counter- 'against' plus force 'push', so to counterforce something is to 'push back' with strength. That is why to counterforce an action means to apply an opposing push to stop or change it.