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
The counterattack also forced Israel to use its fighter jets to further target Iranian launch sites over the course of a 12-day war that cost Israel hundreds of millions of dollars a day.
—Michael C. Horowitz, Foreign Affairs, 4 July 2025
Either initiating or finishing breaks, set pieces and counterattacks, the 5-foot-8½ veteran of six European leagues often did it with aplomb.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2025
Even so, the Ukrainians have launched counterattacks in some areas and are rapidly developing a domestic weapons industry.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 29 June 2025
The attack came after Israel launched strikes against Iranian nuclear and military targets starting June 13, which prompted missile counterattacks by Iran.
—Daniel Klaidman, CBS News, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
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Michael C. Horowitz, Foreign Affairs, 4 July 2025
Either initiating or finishing breaks, set pieces and counterattacks, the 5-foot-8½ veteran of six European leagues often did it with aplomb.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2025
Even so, the Ukrainians have launched counterattacks in some areas and are rapidly developing a domestic weapons industry.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 29 June 2025
The attack came after Israel launched strikes against Iranian nuclear and military targets starting June 13, which prompted missile counterattacks by Iran.
—Daniel Klaidman, CBS News, 24 June 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 18 Jul. 2025.
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