counterpunch

noun

coun·​ter·​punch ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌpənch 

: a counter in boxing

also : a countering blow or attack

counterpunch intransitive verb

counterpuncher

ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌpən-chər 

noun

Synonyms

• counterattack

Examples of counterpunch in a Sentence

the last, desperate counterpunch of the German armies, known as the Battle of the Bulge

Recent Examples on the Web

Aside from the officiating controversy, the Bucs had little success finding a counterpunch to the Lions’ running game. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025

Saturday’s was just that, as KU shocked the crowd into silence by jumping to a 21-6 lead Then, the counterpunches. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025

Stearns’ counterpunch to that was to ship Jose Butto and prospects Drew Gilbert and Blake Tidwell to the Giants for Tyler Rogers, one of the elite set-up men in the game (1.80 ERA and just four walks over 50 innings). —Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 2 Aug. 2025

McMorrow's counterpunch became a social media sensation and boosted her fundraising. —M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 23 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for counterpunch

• brunch
• bunch
• chinch
• crunch
• hunch
• lunch
• punch
• keypunch