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

counterattack

ˌkau̇n-tər-ə-ˈtak 

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

counterattacker

ˌkau̇n-tər-ə-ˈta-kər 

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

Synonyms

• counterassault
• counteroffensive
• counterpunch
• counterstrike

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

Democrats, for their part, feel that any attempt Trump makes to bring up Hunter Biden will leave him open to counterattacks based on his own legal troubles. —Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 June 2024

The goal completed an impressive counterattack preceded by a Wave corner kick. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2024

The Rangers faced fierce counterattacks by the Germans and spent the next two days engaged in combat. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 7 June 2024

The weapons were tracked down nearby and disabled, and the Americans spent two days repelling Nazi counterattacks. —Chris Megerian and Zeke Miller, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

counterattack

noun

coun·​ter·​at·​tack

ˈkau̇nt-ə-rə-ˌtak

: an attack made to counter an enemy's attack

counterattack verb