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 of counterattack

• attack
• counteroffensive
• assault

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

Reinforcing the defense was a key objective this offseason, especially with the retirement of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, but the team looked vulnerable in the counterattack. —Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026

Then, a giveaway — an overcooked pass from Ian James that Jacob Bartlett couldn’t control — led to a counterattack that was finished off by Judd in first-half stoppage time. —Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 22 Feb. 2026

Indeed, Ukraine has even launched a counterattack in recent weeks to take advantage of Russian troops getting cut off from SpaceX’s Starlink internet service. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026

In June 1940, a 49-year-old colonel who had led the French army’s 4th Armored Division in counterattacks against the Germans at Abbeville retreated to London after France surrendered. —Timothy W. Ryback, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counterattack

• ammoniac
• biofeedback
• demoniac
• elegiac
• noncardiac
• paranoiac
• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback

Kids Definition

counterattack

noun

coun·​ter·​at·​tack

ˈkau̇nt-ə-rə-ˌtak

: an attack made to counter an enemy's attack

counterattack verb