as in attack
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack
suddenly the tide of battle turned, and the rebels, who had been falling back, made a furious counterattack
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Recent Examples of counterattack
Some Democrats have praised the posts as humorous and a necessary counterattack, while many Republicans have criticized them as cringy, unfunny, and inauthentic.
—
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
In the almost two years since, Israel has unleashed a devastating counterattack in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people, many of whom were children.
—Robert Birsel
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
In stark contrast to its first half, Santos got multiple opportunities, then a counterattack ended with something between a scissor kick and a bicycle kick by Jordan Carrillo in the 53rd minute.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 1 Aug. 2025
Piccoli was part of a Cagliari side who thrived in transition in Italy’s top flight last season, averaging a league-best 14.6 counterattacks per 90 and scoring its third-most goals from fast breaks (seven).
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
In the almost two years since, Israel has unleashed a devastating counterattack in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people, many of whom were children.
—Robert Birsel
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025
In stark contrast to its first half, Santos got multiple opportunities, then a counterattack ended with something between a scissor kick and a bicycle kick by Jordan Carrillo in the 53rd minute.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 1 Aug. 2025
Piccoli was part of a Cagliari side who thrived in transition in Italy’s top flight last season, averaging a league-best 14.6 counterattacks per 90 and scoring its third-most goals from fast breaks (seven).
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterattack
Noun
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Bin Laden, through the al-Qaida terrorist organization, targeted the United States for nearly a decade before the 9/11 attacks in 2001, utilizing this large and expansive infrastructure.—
Richard Frankel,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
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Polish officials said 19 objects entered its airspace during a large Russian air attack on Ukraine.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That date places Kim's decision to put troops on the ground three weeks after Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in Kursk, and two months before North Korean troops were first reported on the battlefield.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
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Initial Russian gains occurred primarily in the early months of the war, with Ukrainian counteroffensives regaining significant areas in Kharkiv and Kherson provinces.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Investigators later confirmed his DNA matched evidence from that case and others, including attacks in Okemos, Michigan, in 1994; Birmingham, Michigan, in 1995; and Columbus, Ohio, in 1997, as well as two assaults in Ventura in the early 1980s.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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Though Smith was charged with four counts of assault for scaring and endangering the villagers, troopers did not say he was involved in his mother’s death.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterattack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterattack. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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