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
That turnover sparked a counterattack, allowing Rogers to squeeze out a chance with an xG of 0.35 at the back post — where the absent Mendes should have been.
—Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
As Iran braces for a counterattack, the Revolutionary Guard shoots down a Ukrainian passenger plane shortly after takeoff from Tehran’s international airport, reportedly mistaking it for a U.S. cruise missile.
—Associated Press, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
Yet hopes for a smooth transition were shattered last week after reports emerged of Assad loyalists conducting a series of deadly ambushes against the security forces of the interim government, followed by a sweeping counterattack by Damascus and allied militias.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Towards the end of the 1-0 win granted by Arda Guler’s early strike, the Frenchman went to the turf after trying to start a counterattack but clashing with the opposite team’s player Luis Milla.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 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.
Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
As Iran braces for a counterattack, the Revolutionary Guard shoots down a Ukrainian passenger plane shortly after takeoff from Tehran’s international airport, reportedly mistaking it for a U.S. cruise missile.
—Associated Press, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
Yet hopes for a smooth transition were shattered last week after reports emerged of Assad loyalists conducting a series of deadly ambushes against the security forces of the interim government, followed by a sweeping counterattack by Damascus and allied militias.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Towards the end of the 1-0 win granted by Arda Guler’s early strike, the Frenchman went to the turf after trying to start a counterattack but clashing with the opposite team’s player Luis Milla.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 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 13 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share