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
Jack Moore
counterattack
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
Ellen Francis and Angus McDowall
counterattacker
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
Andrew M. Greeley
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
Syrskyi said Ukraine is conducting a strategic defensive operation designed to contain Russian advances, inflict heavy losses, and launch counterattacks where vulnerabilities appear.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
After deploying some of their top offensive players as a potential counterattack weapon shorthanded, the Ducks pulled back from that strategy, which had produced mixed results.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 2 Dec. 2025
Arkansas had done well to prevent Washington from breaking out on counterattacks throughout the match.
—Anthony Kristensen, Arkansas Online, 21 Nov. 2025
The French emperor was forced to retreat amid the harsh Russian winter, dwindling supplies and fierce counterattacks.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
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Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
After deploying some of their top offensive players as a potential counterattack weapon shorthanded, the Ducks pulled back from that strategy, which had produced mixed results.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 2 Dec. 2025
Arkansas had done well to prevent Washington from breaking out on counterattacks throughout the match.
—Anthony Kristensen, Arkansas Online, 21 Nov. 2025
The French emperor was forced to retreat amid the harsh Russian winter, dwindling supplies and fierce counterattacks.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
Cite this Entry
“Counterattack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterattack. Accessed 10 Dec. 2025.
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