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 The following summer, insurgents again attacked and reached the outskirts of Helmand’s capital; Raziq led counteroffensives to lift sieges there and, the next year, in the neighboring Uruzgan province. Matthieu Aikins Victor J. Blue Peter Ganim Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 22 May 2024 Ukraine has dealt Russia's Black Sea Fleet a number of costly blows in the last year, despite an unsuccessful counteroffensive on the ground. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC News, 5 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for counteroffensive 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'counteroffensive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counteroffensive was in 1909

Dictionary Entries Near counteroffensive

Cite this Entry

“Counteroffensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counteroffensive. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

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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