counterstrike
noun
coun·ter·strike
ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌstrīk 
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
W. J. Hennigan and Brian BennettExamples of counterstrike in a Sentence
after countless strikes and counterstrikes, the positions of both armies remained essentially unchanged
Recent Examples on the Web
Iran's top commanders have issued a new warning to the United States and Israel, vowing a far stronger and more punishing counterstrike if either launches new attacks against the Islamic republic.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
The United States led a regional coalition to shoot down practically all of Iran’s missiles, and Israeli counterstrikes destroyed much of Iran’s air defenses.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
Trump, meanwhile, also indicated the U.S. wouldn’t seek to escalate any military action after Iran launched counterstrikes on Monday against a U.S. military base in Qatar.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Iranian officials have said more than 400 people have been killed since Israel's attacks began, Reuters reported; Iran's counterstrikes have resulted in at least 24 deaths in Israel.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterstrike
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Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
The United States led a regional coalition to shoot down practically all of Iran’s missiles, and Israeli counterstrikes destroyed much of Iran’s air defenses.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
Trump, meanwhile, also indicated the U.S. wouldn’t seek to escalate any military action after Iran launched counterstrikes on Monday against a U.S. military base in Qatar.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Iranian officials have said more than 400 people have been killed since Israel's attacks began, Reuters reported; Iran's counterstrikes have resulted in at least 24 deaths in Israel.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterstrike
Cite this Entry
“Counterstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterstrike. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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