Thesaurus results for COUNTERATTACK

counterattack

noun

ˈkau̇n-tər-ə-ˌtak

Definition of counterattack

as in attack

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of counterattack While dealing with an impending counterattack from Oda, Murashige finds that trouble stirs in his own courts as mysterious deaths, from a child prisoner to other officials, end up mysteriously murdered. — Zachary Lee, IndieWire, 27 July 2026 Bouanga's pass then set Martínez loose on a counterattack with Son in injury time, and Martínez buried his sixth goal. — ABC News, 26 July 2026 On a counterattack, Paintsil put away a feed from Marco Reus with a first-touch finish that opened the scoring in the 13th minute. — Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026 But alarms about potential war crimes began ringing inside the Biden Administration soon after Israel began its counterattack on Gaza. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for counterattack

Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterattack

Noun

Detectives charged him with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon for the vicious attack that killed his mother, 57-year-old Josefa Soto de Guzman, on Friday.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 26 Aug. 2026
Just like Ejva, who suddenly needs to learn how to protect the herd and make her family proud, even when a violent attack leaves her struggling.

— Marta Balaga, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

Syrskyi made his mark with the defense of Kyiv, the Kharkiv counteroffensive and the incursion into Kursk.

— David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
But some officials believe Kyiv could have negotiated a peace agreement in mid-2022 if Washington had pushed its ally harder to engage in negotiations after the success of its Kherson and Kharkiv counteroffensives.

— Dafna H. Rand, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of counteroffensive

Noun

The judge dismissed a misdemeanor charge of simple assault against Kissinger, saying that there had been no bodily injury.

— Robert D. Mcfadden, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
In Hangzhou, the latest assault claims have seen multiple companies initiate internal accountability measures, according to political news outlet Guancha, while the official investigation is ongoing.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026