counterbalance
n.something that helps to balance out a strong feeling, idea, or force. It is like a weight on the other side of a scale to make things even.
n.a person, thing, or action that serves to balance or neutralise a particular force, influence, or emotion. Often used in political or psychological contexts to describe a stabilising force.
“The new law acts as a counterbalance to the previous one.”
“In many democracies, an independent judiciary serves as a counterbalance to the power of the executive branch.”
“The protagonist's internal monologue provides a necessary counterbalance to the frenetic action of the plot, allowing the reader to process the emotional stakes of the narrative.”
“Australia’s share market is creeping higher, stabilising from a sharp sell-off in the previous session as banks and miners counterbalanced weakness elsewhere, AAP reports.”
“In the face of such tensions, Carney has advocated for the world’s “middle powers” to join forces as a counterbalance to superpowers like the US and China.”
From counter- + balance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.