counterstrike

noun

coun·​ter·​strike ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌstrīk How to pronounce counterstrike (audio)
variants or counter-strike
plural counterstrikes or counter-strikes
: a strike that retaliates against or counters earlier strike : a return strike
government counterstrikes against the rebel stronghold
… the belief on both sides that any attack would be met with an equally devastating counterstrike.W. J. Hennigan and Brian Bennett

Examples of counterstrike in a Sentence

after countless strikes and counterstrikes, the positions of both armies remained essentially unchanged
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.
And recently, Israeli spies and pilots have managed to cripple Iranian counterstrike capabilities. Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 17 June 2025 Iran’s counterstrikes at Israel and the widening of the domestic damage in each country suggests that a much longer attritional struggle to induce regime change by each side is on the cards. Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 Iran launched counterstrikes on Israel as evening fell over Tel Aviv, some of the missiles breaking through the Iron Dome and hitting targets in the city as officials urged Israeli citizens to remain in bomb shelters. Peter Aitken tom O'Connor Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025 Though the conflict has taken a toll (Iran’s indiscriminate ballistic missile attacks have killed dozens of Israelis and injured hundreds more), the Iranian counterstrikes have not destroyed any significant strategic targets. The Editors, National Review, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for counterstrike

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterstrike was in 1851

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Cite this Entry

“Counterstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterstrike. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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