as in counterattack
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack the last, desperate counterpunch of the German armies, known as the Battle of the Bulge

Synonyms & Similar 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 counterpunch While electric vehicles continue to gain ground, sustainable fuel solutions may offer internal combustion engines a counterpunch. New Atlas, 20 July 2025 In the 1990s, heroin chic surged in popularity as women flooded law schools, boardrooms, and newsrooms in record numbers — a visual counterpunch to female ambition. Anne Marie Chaker, Time, 18 June 2025 The teams began trading big-time, tough layups as the game entered a punch, counterpunch rhythm down the stretch. Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 13 June 2025 Each team is poised for the counterpunch before the first punch is even thrown. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for counterpunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterpunch
counterattack
Noun
  • Manager Ronny Deila will lean heavily on captain Hans Vanaken and striker Andreas Skov Olsen to create chances on the counterattack.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
  • For its part, the Ukrainian military has claimed to have recovered some 70 square miles of territory in the Pokrovsk area over the past two months, in a series of counterattacks.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counterpunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpunch. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!