counterbalance

IPA: kˈaʊntɝbæɫʌns

(literally) A weight that is put in opposition to an equal weight so it keeps that in balance.
(figuratively) A force or influence that balances, checks or limits an opposite one.

(transitive) To apply weight in order to balance an opposing weight.
(transitive, figuratively) To match or equal in effect when applying opposing force.

Examples of "counterbalance" in Sentences

What a pity her main conservative counterbalance is Hasselbeck.
I think you see you've got to have some kind of counterbalance to greed, for example.
But the counterbalance is the presence of that 16-year-old stepdaughter in the car while she's running over her dad.
It will probably come as a "counterbalance" to complaints that our trillion dollar war in Iraq had something to do with it.
Of course not - but today's media always feels the need to "counterbalance" everything - even if it overstates or validates ridiculous positions.
$900 billion budget is at least six times more than China's defense spending, which is probably the greatest potential long-term counterbalance to US military dominance.
He made the gracious point that, absent any meaningful input from Republicans, the Blue Dogs are playing a useful role in creating a certain kind of counterbalance in the overall funding debate, which is needed.
It’s absolutely amazing that they could let the frequently lying Rush Limbaugh continue to broadcast on Armed Forces Radio and would decide to pull the plug to his rightful counterbalance from the progressive side of the fence, Ed Schultz.
In a sense nostalgia can been viewed as 'a coping mechanism in uncertain times', used by both the state and individuals to 'counterbalance' the violence and breakdown of social norms which occurred during a war that fractured the public sphere.