outbalance
/aut'bæləns/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To exceed in weight, value, importance, or influence: To be more significant or have a greater effect than something else.
Examples of Usage
- Verb:
- The potential benefits of the new policy outbalance its risks.
- In her decision, the need for security outbalanced the desire for adventure.
- The advantages of the new system far outbalance the initial cost of implementation.
Advanced Usage
- "to outbalance something": To be more important or influential than something else.
- In any ethical dilemma, one principle may outbalance another.
- Used in comparative contexts, often with adverbs like "far," "greatly," or "easily" to emphasize the degree.
- The environmental concerns greatly outbalance the short-term economic gains.
Variants and Related Words
- Outweigh: A more common synonym with identical meaning.
- The pros outweigh the cons.
- Preponderate: (Verb) To be greater in weight, number, or importance. (More formal)
- Overbalance: Can mean to outweigh, but also has a literal meaning of losing physical balance.
Synonyms
- Outweigh
- Surpass (in importance or influence)
- Eclipse (to make seem less important)
- Override (to prevail over)
Related Phrases
- Tip the scales: To be the deciding or most important factor.
- Her extensive experience tipped the scales in her favor during the interview.
- Carry more weight: To have greater importance or influence.
- In this committee, the opinion of the senior researcher carries more weight.
Notes on Meaning
- Outbalance is synonymous with outweigh. It is used when comparing two or more factors, where one factor is judged to have greater significance, value, or force than the other(s).
- It is typically used in formal, analytical, or evaluative contexts (e.g., decision-making, arguments, cost-benefit analysis).
Verb
- weigh more heavily
- these considerations outweigh our wishes