counteroffensive
noun
coun·ter·of·fen·sive
ˈkau̇n-tər-ə-ˌfen(t)-siv 
: a large-scale military offensive undertaken by a force previously on the defensive
Examples of counteroffensive in a Sentence
They mounted a counteroffensive against the enemy.
the army launched a counteroffensive at dawn
Recent Examples on the Web
Diluted striking force The 2023 counteroffensive drew widespread criticism from military experts for being too ambitious and coming too late, giving Russian forces time to fortify positions.
—
Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The gains represent Kyiv’s most rapid territorial advances since its 2023 counteroffensive in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 18 Feb. 2026
The crypto industry has launched a counteroffensive, arguing that rewards are necessary to allow stablecoins to effectively compete and accusing the banks of attempting to entrench their current position.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2026
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited troops Tuesday in nearby Dobropillia, where Ukrainian forces are staging a counteroffensive to try and draw Russia’s focus.
—Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counteroffensive
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Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The gains represent Kyiv’s most rapid territorial advances since its 2023 counteroffensive in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 18 Feb. 2026
The crypto industry has launched a counteroffensive, arguing that rewards are necessary to allow stablecoins to effectively compete and accusing the banks of attempting to entrench their current position.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2026
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited troops Tuesday in nearby Dobropillia, where Ukrainian forces are staging a counteroffensive to try and draw Russia’s focus.
—Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counteroffensive
Cite this Entry
“Counteroffensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counteroffensive. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
counteroffensive
noun
coun·ter·of·fen·sive
ˈkau̇nt-ə-rə-ˌfen(t)-siv
: a large-scale counterattack
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