counteroffensive

noun

coun·​ter·​of·​fen·​sive ˈkau̇n-tər-ə-ˌfen(t)-siv 

: a large-scale military offensive undertaken by a force previously on the defensive

Synonyms of counteroffensive

• counterattack

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

Syrskyi got the job after the 2023 counteroffensive failed, and the-then top commander, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, was moved to London as Ukraine’s ambassador. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Seven months later, Syrskyi was credited with orchestrating the counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, one of the most significant Ukrainian victories in the war. — ABC News, 21 July 2026

Ukraine’s relative successes on parts of the front line this year, such as successful localized counteroffensives in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, can be credited in part to Syrsky’s focus on cultivating manpower and forming assault groups. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 July 2026

Mostly young protesters support Fedorov Syrskyi initially organized the defense of Kyiv in February 2022, and seven months later masterminded a successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counteroffensive

• antihypertensive
• apprehensive
• coextensive
• comprehensive
• hypertensive
• hypotensive
• inexpensive
• inoffensive
• normotensive
• defensive
• expensive
• extensive

Kids Definition

counteroffensive

noun

coun·​ter·​of·​fen·​sive ˈkau̇nt-ə-rə-ˌfen(t)-siv 

: a large-scale counterattack