counteractively
|coun-ter-ac-tiv-ly|
🇺🇸
/ˌkaʊn.tɚˈæk.tɪv/
🇬🇧
/ˌkaʊn.təˈæk.tɪv/
(counteractive)
acting against
Etymology
'counteractively' is built from the adjective 'counteractive,' which combines the prefix 'counter-' (from Latin/Old French meaning 'against') with 'active' (from Latin 'activus' meaning 'acting').
'counter-' entered English via Old French 'contre' from Latin 'contra' meaning 'against.' 'Active' comes from Latin 'activus' (from 'agere' meaning 'to do/drive'). English formed 'counteractive' by combining these elements, and the adverbial suffix '-ly' produced 'counteractively.'
Initially the component elements meant 'against' + 'acting'; the combined sense — 'acting to oppose or neutralize' — has remained stable and is preserved in 'counteractively.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a manner that counteracts or opposes the effect of something; so as to reduce, neutralize, or work against an influence or force.
The committee introduced several changes that acted counteractively to the previous incentives.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/25 14:54