Definition of counterpunchnext
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

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Recent Examples of counterpunch Griffin’s Miami counterpunch didn’t come from nowhere. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 May 2026 Philadelphia landed a counterpunch in Game 2. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 22 Apr. 2026 But the Aztecs had a counterpunch for every Cowboys jab – a Miles Byrd drive that drew two free throws, a jump hook off the glass from Pharaoh Compton, a 3 from Magoon Gwath, a 3 from Taj DeGourville , a jumper in traffic from Dixon-Waters. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026 The counterpunch for Republicans is the fact that off-year elections — those held in odd years not during traditional general elections — get less attention and are often poor measures for the overall mood of the electorate. Christian Orozco, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for counterpunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterpunch
counterattack
Noun
  • Oil prices jumped Monday morning as the latest cycle of attacks and counterattacks renewed fears of further disruption to flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 July 2026
  • Morocco had more talent than Paraguay, more menacing technique and tactics, and, presumably, could mount more dangerous counterattacks.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Counterpunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpunch. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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