counterretaliation

noun

coun·​ter·​re·​tal·​i·​a·​tion ˌkau̇n-tər-ri-ˌta-lē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce counterretaliation (audio)
-ˌrē-
variants or counter-retaliation
plural counterretaliations or counter-retaliations
: an act of retaliating against a previous retaliatory act
… provoke retaliatory strikes that are promptly followed by counterretaliation.Robert Lekachman

Examples of counterretaliation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web One study in Chicago, for example, found evidence that cycles of retaliation and counterretaliation meant that a single shooting was often the root cause of three, or sometimes 60, or once almost 500 subsequent shootings over the next few years. John Pfaff, The New Republic, 21 June 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'counterretaliation.' 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

1813, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterretaliation was in 1813

Dictionary Entries Near counterretaliation

Cite this Entry

“Counterretaliation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterretaliation. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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