Counterswing

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A movement or shift in the reverse direction, especially one that reacts against an earlier trend or motion
2. A reactive swing back the other way, often in response to a previous change in direction or opinion
3. An opposing motion that moves contrary to the prevailing direction and tends to offset an earlier swing

Etymology: "Counterswing" is a plain compound: "counter-" meaning against or in opposition, joined to "swing," the back-and-forth motion of something moving through an arc. Together they describe a movement that swings back against a prior swing, the reversal that follows a dominant trend. The word is a noun built on that transparent pattern, so its meaning follows directly from its parts rather than from any shift in sense. Its use is most often figurative, describing a reaction that pushes opinion, markets, or political fortunes back in the opposite direction after a strong movement one way.

Synonyms: backswing, countermovement