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.
Related Words
Relevance
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
Those officers then filed a counterclaim, and the court upheld their removal of Jones.
—
Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2025
Buffett's widow, Jane Buffett, demanded the musician's financial advisor be removed as a co-trustee from the couple's marital trust in a counterclaim filed July 21.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
In the counterclaim, Harvey Weinstein asserted that Bob Weinstein and David Glasser took millions in unjustified payments before the bankruptcy, leaving it vulnerable to insolvency.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 21 July 2025
The verdict came June 1, 2022: Depp won his defamation claims, and Heard won one of her three counterclaims.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterclaim
Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2025
Buffett's widow, Jane Buffett, demanded the musician's financial advisor be removed as a co-trustee from the couple's marital trust in a counterclaim filed July 21.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
In the counterclaim, Harvey Weinstein asserted that Bob Weinstein and David Glasser took millions in unjustified payments before the bankruptcy, leaving it vulnerable to insolvency.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 21 July 2025
The verdict came June 1, 2022: Depp won his defamation claims, and Heard won one of her three counterclaims.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterclaim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterclaim
Noun
-
But a butt dial revealed the truth about what actually happened, the complaint alleges.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The site provides links to 14 private and government groups that accept and act on complaints, including the FBI, the Better Business Bureau, the Social Security Administration, AARP, the SEC, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Possible candidates for Grundyson’s replacement include Deputy Chief Laura Ragusa, who has a lawsuit pending against the city, and Deputy Chief James Dean.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Smythson’s Portobello notebook—famously toted by Gwyneth Paltrow during her victorious lawsuit defense—also appears in this helpful planner iteration with a week-to-view layout.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Resolution work involves collections (helping individuals and businesses that owe the IRS or state but can’t pay in full) and controversy (audits, appeals and litigation).—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Despite that litigation, WB claimed that Midjourney has recently removed copyright protections in its supposedly shameful ongoing bid for profits.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In June, Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit was tossed out.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
28 Aug. 2025
-
In July 2023, Allen filed a countersuit and his lawyers claimed that the singer had gotten her permission to record the encounter beforehand.—
Daniela Avila,
People.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterclaim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterclaim. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share