Definition

1. 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

1. weigh more heavily
   • these considerations outweigh our wishes