counterattack

noun

coun·​ter·​at·​tack ˈkau̇n-tər-ə-ˌtak How to pronounce counterattack (audio)
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 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 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For its part, the Ukrainian military has claimed to have recovered some 70 square miles of territory in the Pokrovsk area over the past two months, in a series of counterattacks. Tim Lister, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025 The officer recalled that they had been ordered to ready themselves for a counterattack. Danny Makki, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 The toll of German resistance and counterattack on the Allied combat units was enormous. Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025 Ukraine’s use of Tomahawks — subsonic cruise missiles that can strike targets from 1,000 miles away —would give the country the ability to ramp up its counterattacks on Russia. Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for counterattack

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterattack was in 1800

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counterattack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterattack. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

counterattack

noun
coun·​ter·​at·​tack
ˈkau̇nt-ə-rə-ˌtak
: an attack made to counter an enemy's attack
counterattack verb

More from Merriam-Webster on counterattack

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