as in lawsuits
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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Recent Examples of counterclaims
Worse, Paramount’s fraud and copyright infringement counterclaims—alleging Gray deliberately hid his participation (which Gray denies)—were greenlit for trial.
—
Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
In his counterclaims against Stalcup, the former analyst accused of stealing and doctoring documents alleges the 2023 capital calls used misleading statements to get people to pitch in.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Steven Cooper, the lead lawyer for PleasrDAO, blasted Shkreli’s counterclaims.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2026
The management firm later filed counterclaims against CAA over its use of noncompetes.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 9 Jan. 2026
Claims and counterclaims and various legal motions piled up on both coasts, but the core dispute remained, more or less, constant.
—Literary Hub, 16 Dec. 2025
The court dismissed those counterclaims.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2025
The team's counterclaims include defamation, civil conspiracy, tortious interference and breach of contract.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
The Jane the Virgin alum’s counterclaims against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, which involved allegations of extortion and defamation, were dismissed by Judge Liman in June.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
In his counterclaims against Stalcup, the former analyst accused of stealing and doctoring documents alleges the 2023 capital calls used misleading statements to get people to pitch in.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Steven Cooper, the lead lawyer for PleasrDAO, blasted Shkreli’s counterclaims.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2026
The management firm later filed counterclaims against CAA over its use of noncompetes.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 9 Jan. 2026
Claims and counterclaims and various legal motions piled up on both coasts, but the core dispute remained, more or less, constant.
—Literary Hub, 16 Dec. 2025
The court dismissed those counterclaims.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2025
The team's counterclaims include defamation, civil conspiracy, tortious interference and breach of contract.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
The Jane the Virgin alum’s counterclaims against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, which involved allegations of extortion and defamation, were dismissed by Judge Liman in June.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterclaims
Noun
-
The two lawsuits center on access at federal buildings on the outskirts of Chicago and Minneapolis, where clergy said detainees were held for multiple days during the respective enforcement surges last fall and earlier this winter.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
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Some, like Precious Brady-Davis, mentioned specific legislation activists say is holding women back — for example, a bill in Kansas that invalidated driver’s licenses and birth certificates for transgender Kansans and paves the way for further anti-transgender lawsuits, advocates say.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
One activist said the group is aware of the concerns, as well as worries about noise complaints, but counter that with the changing tactics of ICE agents in their communities, residents are also looking for new, flexible, grassroots ways to alert people.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Earlier in the night, the combative progressive suggested the results would not be known until Wednesday or later after the Texas Supreme Court blocked a Dallas judge who ordered polls to stay open two extra hours after complaints from voters who were turned away.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Counterclaims.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterclaims. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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