variants
or counter-attacks
as in attacks
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack
suddenly the tide of battle turned, and the rebels, who had been falling back, made a furious counterattack
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Recent Examples of counterattacks
Defense Ministry spokesman Enayatulah Khowarazmi said that Afghan forces had launched counterattacks with snipers across the border from Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost and Kandahar provinces overnight.
—
Abdul Qahar Afghan, Arkansas Online, 2 Mar. 2026
Iran launched counterattacks against multiple cities in the Middle East, including Qatar and Dubai.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
An additional service member had died, the government said, since the weekend from injuries sustained in Iran’s counterattacks.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Defense Ministry spokesman Enayatulah Khowarazmi said Afghan forces had launched counterattacks with snipers across the border from Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost and Kandahar provinces overnight.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
The news came as Iran continued to intensify counterattacks across the region, including on American military bases.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Western intelligence sources later indicated the digital offensive aimed to disrupt IRGC command and control systems and limit coordination of counterattacks.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
In June 1940, a 49-year-old colonel who had led the French army’s 4th Armored Division in counterattacks against the Germans at Abbeville retreated to London after France surrendered.
—Timothy W. Ryback, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
Whatever chemistry is required for incredible players to band together existed immediately, and the remaining outfield players worked hard to support them, defend and create chances to put the ball in behind opponents on counterattacks.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026
Abdul Qahar Afghan, Arkansas Online, 2 Mar. 2026
Iran launched counterattacks against multiple cities in the Middle East, including Qatar and Dubai.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
An additional service member had died, the government said, since the weekend from injuries sustained in Iran’s counterattacks.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Defense Ministry spokesman Enayatulah Khowarazmi said Afghan forces had launched counterattacks with snipers across the border from Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost and Kandahar provinces overnight.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
The news came as Iran continued to intensify counterattacks across the region, including on American military bases.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Western intelligence sources later indicated the digital offensive aimed to disrupt IRGC command and control systems and limit coordination of counterattacks.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
In June 1940, a 49-year-old colonel who had led the French army’s 4th Armored Division in counterattacks against the Germans at Abbeville retreated to London after France surrendered.
—Timothy W. Ryback, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
Whatever chemistry is required for incredible players to band together existed immediately, and the remaining outfield players worked hard to support them, defend and create chances to put the ball in behind opponents on counterattacks.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterattacks
Noun
-
Even so, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) saw fresh drone and missile attacks Saturday morning.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has continued to launch retaliatory drone and missile attacks across the region, and a clerical body has been working to select the country's next supreme leader.—
Stefan Becket,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Russia still controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, while Kyiv has recently clawed back limited ground in counteroffensives.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
24 Feb. 2026
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Dynamic shifts on the battlefield — with large swaths of Ukrainian land changing hands in offensives and counteroffensives in the early years of the war — have since given way to a conflict of inches.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Friday, several of the victims recounted the assaults during his sentencing.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 2026
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Afghan capital, Kabul, and two other provinces were attacked hours after the Taliban launched cross-border assaults.—
Marissa Martinez,
NBC news,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Wednesday’s ballistic missile launches by North Korea were the first of their kind since the country on May 8 tested short-range systems that simulated nuclear counterstrikes against US and South Korean forces.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterattacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterattacks. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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