counterweight vs counterbalance

counterweight and counterbalance both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
counterweight	Yes	No	Yes	No
counterbalance	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, counterweight and counterbalance are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of counterweight include balance, counterpoise, equaliser, equalizer.

As verbs, counterbalance is a hypernym of counterweight; that is, counterbalance is a word with a broader meaning than counterweight:

Other hypernyms of counterweight include oppose.

counterweight (noun)	counterbalance (noun)
a weight that balances another weight	a weight that balances another weight
	a compensating equivalent
	equality of distribution

counterweight (verb)	counterbalance (verb)
constitute a counterweight or counterbalance to	oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions
	contrast with equal weight or force
	adjust for