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
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
Democrats coast-to-coast have promised a full-scale counterattack should the Lone Star State move forward with redistricting.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 31 July 2025
On the other hand, with nothing yet from Trump himself on social media, the White House was more than eager to go on the record and on the counterattack.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 July 2025
In 1943: Soviet forces were able to stop the German Eastern front offensive in a counterattack at Kursk in southwest Russia.
—Daily Briefing, AZCentral.com, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
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Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 1 Aug. 2025
Democrats coast-to-coast have promised a full-scale counterattack should the Lone Star State move forward with redistricting.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 31 July 2025
On the other hand, with nothing yet from Trump himself on social media, the White House was more than eager to go on the record and on the counterattack.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 July 2025
In 1943: Soviet forces were able to stop the German Eastern front offensive in a counterattack at Kursk in southwest Russia.
—Daily Briefing, AZCentral.com, 12 July 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 4 Aug. 2025.
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