as in counterattack
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack
a feeble counterassault that proved to be entirely futile
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Recent Examples of counterassault
The Israeli counterassault over the last few days has killed at least 31 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip including seven children and four women, according to the U.N. humanitarian office.
—
Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 12 May 2023
The 77-minute siege ended with a counterassault led by a SWAT team from the US Border Patrol.
—ABC News, 13 Feb. 2023
Another risk is that Russia’s invasion and the West’s financial counterassault could prove more economically disruptive than the pandemic.
—Nick Timiraos, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022
Saturday’s assault included a volley of rockets that Ukrainian officials said damaged 47 apartment buildings and houses, adding that Ukraine cannot answer the attacks for fear that a counterassault would set off a radiation disaster.
—Vivian Yee, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2022
Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 12 May 2023
The 77-minute siege ended with a counterassault led by a SWAT team from the US Border Patrol.
—ABC News, 13 Feb. 2023
Another risk is that Russia’s invasion and the West’s financial counterassault could prove more economically disruptive than the pandemic.
—Nick Timiraos, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022
Saturday’s assault included a volley of rockets that Ukrainian officials said damaged 47 apartment buildings and houses, adding that Ukraine cannot answer the attacks for fear that a counterassault would set off a radiation disaster.
—Vivian Yee, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterassault
counterattack
Noun
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In 1943: Soviet forces were able to stop the German Eastern front offensive in a counterattack at Kursk in southwest Russia.—
DAILY BRIEFING,
AZCentral.com,
12 July 2025
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Trump mocks Iran’s counterattack The president, who has racked up a number of foreign policy victories in recent weeks, took time during Thursday’s event to poke fun at Iran for its response to U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities last month.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterassault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterassault. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
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