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counterclaim

noun

Definition of counterclaimnext
as in complaint
a court case brought against the plaintiff of another court case by the defendant The defendant filed a counterclaim for his own injuries, claiming that he only rear-ended the plaintiff because she had stopped too fast.

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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 counterclaim Wheeler also filed a counterclaim accusing Martinez of converting $50,000 in restaurant money for his own use. — Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026 In Georgia, Teddy’s Market has answered with counterclaims arguing Buc-ee's is squeezing smaller rivals with claims that don't hold. — Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The Pac-12 provided its answer to the counterclaim in April, and a trial was set for that matter in July 2027. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Williams, who had filed counterclaims against Baumgarten for allegedly making false and defamatory statements about her and tarnishing her reputation, also voluntarily dismissed her suit at the same time. — Catherine Muccigrosso july 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for counterclaim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterclaim
  1. complaint
  2. lawsuit
  3. litigation
  4. countersuit
Noun
  • Mold, mice, dirty bathrooms, overflowing trash cans and unattended animal carcasses are just some of the complaints from teachers in Cook County School District 130—serving Blue Island, Robbins, Alsip, and Crestwood.
    — Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Later that day, Triunfel returned to the apartment and disabled a security camera that had recorded the crime, the complaint states.
    — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of complaint
Noun
  • The threat of the penalties if the SEC eventually wins either the Louisiana case or the federal lawsuit temporarily won the day.
    — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • In 2022, after Foulkes had left CVS, the company agreed to pay $5 billion to settle lawsuits nationwide over the toll of opioids, without admitting wrongdoing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of lawsuit
Noun
  • The high speed rail project, which voters first approved nearly 20 years ago, has become a political liability for Democrats as budget estimates have ballooned and the project has been delayed for years due to litigation and regulatory hurdles.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Consider ongoing litigation between state governments and prediction-market companies, where the two sides are debating whether states are preempted from enforcing their gambling laws by a federal law on prediction markets.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of litigation
Noun
  • Baldoni filed a $400 million countersuit the next month accusing Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and The New York Times of civil extortion, defamation and false light.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The federal ruling from Denver was clarified three days later to exclude athletes who'd already signed professional contracts, which prompted a countersuit filed in Louisiana state court that gained a temporary restraining order on Wednesday.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of countersuit

Browse Nearby Words

countercharges
counterclaim
counterclaims
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counterclaim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterclaim. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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