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
Synonyms
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 bet was that the trio could keep scoring goals while giving up fewer counterattacks for free; opposing coaches had started to line-match their top scorers against Winnipeg’s stars.
—Murat Ates, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Additionally, China's disregard for potential ramifications, including detection, traceback, and attribution of this attack, could worsen existing mistrust between the two nations and lead to possible US counterattacks on Chinese infrastructure.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
The Spanish giant was not to be denied the three points, however, as Torres scored the winning goal five minutes from the end, finishing off a swift counterattack into the bottom corner.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024
For the first year of those sanctions, Iranian leaders exhibited remarkable restraint, only to pivot dramatically and launch a series of counterattacks, including strikes on Persian Gulf shipping and Saudi oil facilities.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
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Murat Ates, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Additionally, China's disregard for potential ramifications, including detection, traceback, and attribution of this attack, could worsen existing mistrust between the two nations and lead to possible US counterattacks on Chinese infrastructure.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
The Spanish giant was not to be denied the three points, however, as Torres scored the winning goal five minutes from the end, finishing off a swift counterattack into the bottom corner.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024
For the first year of those sanctions, Iranian leaders exhibited remarkable restraint, only to pivot dramatically and launch a series of counterattacks, including strikes on Persian Gulf shipping and Saudi oil facilities.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for counterattack
Dictionary Entries Near counterattack
Cite this Entry
“Counterattack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterattack. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
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