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
That strategy only works if the back line can absorb the occasional counterattack.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Iranian counterattacks have also targeted refineries and oil fields in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
—Gavin J. Quinton
march 10, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
More than a dozen people across several Middle Eastern nations have died in Iranian counterattacks, including at least 10 civilians in Israel.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
The American-Israeli military campaign set off a series of attacks and counterattacks that have hit or threatened several Gulf nations.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
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Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Iranian counterattacks have also targeted refineries and oil fields in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
—Gavin J. Quinton
march 10, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
More than a dozen people across several Middle Eastern nations have died in Iranian counterattacks, including at least 10 civilians in Israel.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
The American-Israeli military campaign set off a series of attacks and counterattacks that have hit or threatened several Gulf nations.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
Cite this Entry
“Counterattack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterattack. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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