counterstrike
noun
coun·ter·strike
ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌstrīk 
variants
or counter-strike
plural counterstrikes or counter-strikes
: a strike that retaliates against or counters earlier strike : a return strike
government counterstrikes against the rebel stronghold
… the belief on both sides that any attack would be met with an equally devastating counterstrike.—
W. J. Hennigan and Brian Bennett
W. J. Hennigan and Brian BennettExamples of counterstrike in a Sentence
after countless strikes and counterstrikes, the positions of both armies remained essentially unchanged
Recent Examples on the Web
Qatar has been targeted by Iranian counterstrikes on its capital Doha, its airport, and other civilian and state infrastructure.
—Justin Papp,pippa Stevens,dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,lee Ying Shan,vinay Dwivedi, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
The Israel Judo Association (IJA), widely considered the country's most successful Olympic sports program, was forced to depart the Tashkent Grand Slam and leave Uzbekistan, as tensions mount amid Israel's attack on Iran, and Iran's subsequent counterstrike, according to The Jerusalem Post.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Officials say that the move is a precaution amid threats from Tehran to launch a counterstrike against the Qatari base and American forces.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2026
In a direct counterstrike, California Democrats successfully passed Proposition 50, suspending their nonpartisan redistricting commission and moving to shift five seats into the Democratic column.
—Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterstrike
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Justin Papp,pippa Stevens,dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,lee Ying Shan,vinay Dwivedi, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
The Israel Judo Association (IJA), widely considered the country's most successful Olympic sports program, was forced to depart the Tashkent Grand Slam and leave Uzbekistan, as tensions mount amid Israel's attack on Iran, and Iran's subsequent counterstrike, according to The Jerusalem Post.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Officials say that the move is a precaution amid threats from Tehran to launch a counterstrike against the Qatari base and American forces.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2026
In a direct counterstrike, California Democrats successfully passed Proposition 50, suspending their nonpartisan redistricting commission and moving to shift five seats into the Democratic column.
—Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterstrike
Cite this Entry
“Counterstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterstrike. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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