counterattack
noun
coun·ter·at·tack
ˈkau̇n-tər-ə-ˌtak 
variants
or counter-attack
plural counterattacks or counter-attacks
: an attack made in response to or in defense against an attack made by another
a series of attacks and counterattacks
Iraqi forces are advancing into the city of Fallujah, repelling a counter-attack by the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) on Tuesday …—
Jack Moore
Jack Moore
counterattack
verb, transitive + intransitive
or counter-attack
counterattacked or counter-attacked; counterattacking or counter-attacking
Syrian rebels including jihadists counter-attacked the army and its allies on Friday aiming to break a weeks-long siege on eastern Aleppo, insurgents said.
—Ellen Francis and Angus McDowall
Ellen Francis and Angus McDowall
counterattacker
noun
or counter-attacker
plural counterattackers or counter-attackers
Finally, the big man, bleeding profusely, succeeded in throwing his counterattacker off him.
—Andrew M. Greeley
Andrew M. Greeley
Examples of counterattack in a Sentence
suddenly the tide of battle turned, and the rebels, who had been falling back, made a furious counterattack
Recent Examples on the Web
Ukrainian troops in the past two weeks have managed to launch successful counterattacks on Russian positions around Pokrovsk, recapturing some ground.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2025
In its subsequent counterattack, Israel has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to local officials.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
In some sectors, the Russians are actually retreating as Ukraine concentrates forces for local counterattacks.
—David Axe, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Israeli officials say Hamas killed over 1,200 people and captured around 250 hostages during the attack of October 7, 2023, while Palestinian health officials say Israeli forces killed nearly 47,000 in counterattacks, Reuters reported.
—Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
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Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2025
In its subsequent counterattack, Israel has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to local officials.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
In some sectors, the Russians are actually retreating as Ukraine concentrates forces for local counterattacks.
—David Axe, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Israeli officials say Hamas killed over 1,200 people and captured around 250 hostages during the attack of October 7, 2023, while Palestinian health officials say Israeli forces killed nearly 47,000 in counterattacks, Reuters reported.
—Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterattack
Cite this Entry
“Counterattack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterattack. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
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