counterattack
noun
coun·ter·at·tack
ˈkau̇n-tər-ə-ˌtak 
variants
or counter-attack
plural counterattacks or counter-attacks
: an attack made in response to or in defense against an attack made by another
a series of attacks and counterattacks
Iraqi forces are advancing into the city of Fallujah, repelling a counter-attack by the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) on Tuesday …—
Jack Moore
Jack Moore
counterattack
verb, transitive + intransitive
or counter-attack
counterattacked or counter-attacked; counterattacking or counter-attacking
Syrian rebels including jihadists counter-attacked the army and its allies on Friday aiming to break a weeks-long siege on eastern Aleppo, insurgents said.
—Ellen Francis and Angus McDowall
Ellen Francis and Angus McDowall
counterattacker
noun
or counter-attacker
plural counterattackers or counter-attackers
Finally, the big man, bleeding profusely, succeeded in throwing his counterattacker off him.
—Andrew M. Greeley
Andrew M. Greeley
Examples of counterattack in a Sentence
suddenly the tide of battle turned, and the rebels, who had been falling back, made a furious counterattack
Recent Examples on the Web
The successful operation followed a similar Ukrainian counterattack earlier this month on the western side of Pokrovsk.
—David Axe, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Sam Bennett intercepted the pass and started the counterattack.
—Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Taking the long view, Washington saw that bags of flour and corn were worth little compared to a fierce counterattack by citizen militias.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
Pino, the reigning MASL Defender of the Week, then blocked the follow-up attempt, from which Acosta cleared away from danger before racing up the turf to stick his right foot out and finish the counterattack.
—Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
David Axe, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Sam Bennett intercepted the pass and started the counterattack.
—Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Taking the long view, Washington saw that bags of flour and corn were worth little compared to a fierce counterattack by citizen militias.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
Pino, the reigning MASL Defender of the Week, then blocked the follow-up attempt, from which Acosta cleared away from danger before racing up the turf to stick his right foot out and finish the counterattack.
—Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
Cite this Entry
“Counterattack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterattack. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share