equipoise.

A state in which opposing forces, influences, or claims are evenly balanced.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• a state of equipoise
• maintain equipoise
• an uneasy equipoise

On the page

For a moment the two alliances held in equipoise, neither able to dictate the terms.

The sculpture's apparent equipoise depended on a weight hidden beneath the floor.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary. Forms: Usually uncountable. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.