set off vs counteract

set off and counteract both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
set off	No	No	Yes	No
counteract	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, counteract is a hyponym of set off; that is, counteract is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than set off:

Other hyponyms of set off include counterbalance, countervail, neutralize.

set off (verb)	counteract (verb)
cause to burst with a violent release of energy	act in opposition to
set in motion or cause to begin	destroy property or hinder normal operations
direct attention to, as if by means of contrast	oppose or check by a counteraction
provoke or stir up	oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions
put in motion or move to act
depart for someplace
make up for