variants
or counter-strikes
as in counterattacks
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack
after countless strikes and counterstrikes, the positions of both armies remained essentially unchanged
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Recent Examples of counterstrikes
The attacks and counterstrikes, combined with Iran’s ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, sent oil and natural gas prices soaring on global markets.
—
Peter Weber, TheWeek, 19 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, Iran has launched counterstrikes on neighboring countries.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Additionally, the Iranian military has targeted oil fields and refineries in the Gulf states in their counterstrikes, causing major disruptions to their export industries.
—Sarah Davis, The Hill, 11 Mar. 2026
Qatar has been targeted by Iranian counterstrikes on its capital Doha, its airport, and other civilian and state infrastructure.
—Justin Papp,pippa Stevens,dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,lee Ying Shan,vinay Dwivedi, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
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, 22 Oct. 2025
Peter Weber, TheWeek, 19 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, Iran has launched counterstrikes on neighboring countries.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
Additionally, the Iranian military has targeted oil fields and refineries in the Gulf states in their counterstrikes, causing major disruptions to their export industries.
—Sarah Davis, The Hill, 11 Mar. 2026
Qatar has been targeted by Iranian counterstrikes on its capital Doha, its airport, and other civilian and state infrastructure.
—Justin Papp,pippa Stevens,dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,lee Ying Shan,vinay Dwivedi, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
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, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterstrikes
counterattacks
Noun
-
Ukraine has sought to derail the Kremlin’s plans by launching counterattacks in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, where Russian forces have sought to carve out bridgeheads with an aim to advance toward the regional capitals, which are key industrial hubs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Our Middle East allies and embassies are bearing the brunt of counterattacks.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counterstrikes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterstrikes. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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