counterpressure
noun
coun·ter·pres·sure
ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌpre-shər 
variants
or counter-pressure
plural counterpressures or counter-pressures
1
: weight or force in a contrary or reverse direction
… allow the user to change the firmness of the mattress by adjusting the flow of air, providing a counterpressure to body weight.—
Moshe Lewis
Moshe Lewiscounterpressure applied to the lower back during labor for pain relief
2
: conflicting or opposing pressure (such as political or social pressure)
But some of them might actually need some counterpressure before they can effectively stand up to the illiberal forces growing stronger on so many campuses.—Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt… the internal pressures and counterpressures influencing the Arab world …—Laura Secor
Laura SecorExamples of counterpressure in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Elastic undergirding, Spanx-style, provides about two-thirds of the necessary counterpressure to keep someone alive in a vacuum.
—Sarah Scoles, Discover Magazine, 24 Sep. 2014
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Sarah Scoles, Discover Magazine, 24 Sep. 2014
Dictionary Entries Near counterpressure
Cite this Entry
“Counterpressure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterpressure. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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