counterpunch

noun

coun·​ter·​punch ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌpənch 

: a counter in boxing

also : a countering blow or attack

counterpunch intransitive verb

counterpuncher

ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌpən-chər 

noun

Synonyms

• counterattack

Examples of counterpunch in a Sentence

the last, desperate counterpunch of the German armies, known as the Battle of the Bulge

Recent Examples on the Web

Stearns’ counterpunch to that was to ship Jose Butto and prospects Drew Gilbert and Blake Tidwell to the Giants for Tyler Rogers, one of the elite set-up men in the game (1.80 ERA and just four walks over 50 innings). —Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 2 Aug. 2025

New York needs Towns to carry its offense when the Pacers take the paint away from Brunson, so the Knicks’ best counterpunch might be limited for Game 5. —Jared Weiss, New York Times, 27 May 2025

Each team is poised for the counterpunch before the first punch is even thrown. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 10 June 2025

The teams began trading big-time, tough layups as the game entered a punch, counterpunch rhythm down the stretch. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 13 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counterpunch

• brunch
• bunch
• chinch
• crunch
• hunch
• lunch
• punch
• keypunch