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
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
There would be no counterpunch from Dodgers’ offense, which was missing Mookie Betts for a third-straight game because of a toe fracture (Betts said before the game his toe was starting to feel better, and went through pregame activities in hopes of avoiding a stint on the injured list).
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
Xi's counterpunch: How China will ensure the trade war hurts the U.S.
—Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 11 Apr. 2025
With their backs against the wall, Saints threw one more counterpunch.
—Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterpunch
Anne Marie Chaker, Time, 18 June 2025
There would be no counterpunch from Dodgers’ offense, which was missing Mookie Betts for a third-straight game because of a toe fracture (Betts said before the game his toe was starting to feel better, and went through pregame activities in hopes of avoiding a stint on the injured list).
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
Xi's counterpunch: How China will ensure the trade war hurts the U.S.
—Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 11 Apr. 2025
With their backs against the wall, Saints threw one more counterpunch.
—Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterpunch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterpunch
counterattack
Noun
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In the almost two years since, Israel has unleashed a devastating counterattack in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people, many of whom were children.—
Robert Birsel
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
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Piccoli was part of a Cagliari side who thrived in transition in Italy’s top flight last season, averaging a league-best 14.6 counterattacks per 90 and scoring its third-most goals from fast breaks (seven).—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterpunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterpunch. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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