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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterattack
Democrats coast-to-coast have promised a full-scale counterattack should the Lone Star State move forward with redistricting.
—
Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 31 July 2025
On the other hand, with nothing yet from Trump himself on social media, the White House was more than eager to go on the record and on the counterattack.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 July 2025
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
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
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 31 July 2025
On the other hand, with nothing yet from Trump himself on social media, the White House was more than eager to go on the record and on the counterattack.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 July 2025
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
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
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterattack
Noun
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But just this week, BPD arrested two undocumented immigrants caught on camera carrying out a violent attack in Canton.—
WBFF STAFF,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Aug. 2025
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Given the dynamics of last year’s presidential contest, in which worries about rising costs of living played a role in Californian Kamala Harris’s loss to Donald Trump, California’s very high costs for housing and other fundamental living needs, would be fodder for attacks on Newsom in 2028.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In the current war, Russian forces have installed these defenses along stretches of territory near the Ukrainian border and in occupied areas, aiming to slow potential armored counteroffensives.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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What followed was a bold counteroffensive that would become recognized as one of the most successful operations in Indian military history.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 May 2025
Noun
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Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.—
Jacky Wong,
WSJ,
6 Feb. 2023
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Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
31 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Counterattack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterattack. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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