counterinsurgency
noun
coun·ter·in·sur·gen·cy
ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈsər-jən(t)-sē 
: organized military activity designed to combat insurgency
Examples of counterinsurgency in a Sentence
The military has launched a counterinsurgency.
Recent Examples on the Web
At the time, the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq had demonstrated America’s inability to employ immersive military and political means—in particular, counterinsurgency and nation-building—to export liberal democracy.
—
Steven Simon, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024
Austin, who as an Army general oversaw counterinsurgency campaigns in the Middle East and Afghanistan, has deep experience battling militant groups and with the United States’ own struggle to avoid civilian casualties.
—Missy Ryan, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
That erosion has occurred since the collapse of the Soviet Union but accelerated during the 20 years of post 9/11 focus on counterinsurgency warfare to the exclusion of preparing for great power conflict.
—Dave Deptula, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
Meanwhile Europe’s conventional military forces are well equipped to deal with smaller, asymmetric conflicts, such as France’s ongoing counterinsurgency operation in Africa’s Sahel region.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024
The cuts will mainly be in already-empty posts – not actual soldiers – including in jobs related to counterinsurgency that swelled during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars but are not needed as much today.
—Lolita C. Baldor, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2024
Israel’s current strategy seems likely to end in either the mass expulsion of Gazans or a perpetual, costly, and violent counterinsurgency.
—Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Elements of the group, the Ulster Defence Organization, had ties to the British military — making it, according to the suit, a version of the pseudo-gangs that General Kitson had long promoted in counterinsurgency campaigns.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
Reagan backed a brutal counterinsurgency campaign by El Salvador’s military.
—Elizabeth N. Saunders, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Steven Simon, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024
Austin, who as an Army general oversaw counterinsurgency campaigns in the Middle East and Afghanistan, has deep experience battling militant groups and with the United States’ own struggle to avoid civilian casualties.
—Missy Ryan, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
That erosion has occurred since the collapse of the Soviet Union but accelerated during the 20 years of post 9/11 focus on counterinsurgency warfare to the exclusion of preparing for great power conflict.
—Dave Deptula, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024
Meanwhile Europe’s conventional military forces are well equipped to deal with smaller, asymmetric conflicts, such as France’s ongoing counterinsurgency operation in Africa’s Sahel region.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024
The cuts will mainly be in already-empty posts – not actual soldiers – including in jobs related to counterinsurgency that swelled during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars but are not needed as much today.
—Lolita C. Baldor, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2024
Israel’s current strategy seems likely to end in either the mass expulsion of Gazans or a perpetual, costly, and violent counterinsurgency.
—Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Elements of the group, the Ulster Defence Organization, had ties to the British military — making it, according to the suit, a version of the pseudo-gangs that General Kitson had long promoted in counterinsurgency campaigns.
—Clay Risen, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024
Reagan backed a brutal counterinsurgency campaign by El Salvador’s military.
—Elizabeth N. Saunders, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'counterinsurgency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1962, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of counterinsurgency was
in 1962
Dictionary Entries Near counterinsurgency
Cite this Entry
“Counterinsurgency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterinsurgency. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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