counteroffensive

noun

coun·​ter·​of·​fen·​sive ˈkau̇n-tər-ə-ˌfen(t)-siv How to pronounce counteroffensive (audio)
: a large-scale military offensive undertaken by a force previously on the defensive

Examples of counteroffensive in a Sentence

They mounted a counteroffensive against the enemy. the army launched a counteroffensive at dawn
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.
In recent months, as part of a vast counteroffensive, the army and militias allied with it have gradually reclaimed much of the north and east of the city. New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025 The TikTok trend appears to be a strategic digital counteroffensive, giving Chinese producers a platform to reach U.S. consumers directly while sidestepping both tariffs and middlemen. Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025 By late summer, Zelenskyy's forces had begun their own counteroffensive into Kursk, a Russian border region, a surprise move that put Moscow on its back foot. Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2025 Kyiv's troops have repelled months of Russian counteroffensives, but recent weeks have seen their salient crumble and Russian forces retake significant ground. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for counteroffensive

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counteroffensive was in 1909

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Cite this Entry

“Counteroffensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counteroffensive. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

counteroffensive

noun
coun·​ter·​of·​fen·​sive ˈkau̇nt-ə-rə-ˌfen(t)-siv How to pronounce counteroffensive (audio)
: a large-scale counterattack
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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