as in counterattack
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack
the army launched a counteroffensive at dawn
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Recent Examples of counteroffensive
In the lead-up to Ukraine’s southern counteroffensive, which kicked off in June 2023, Ukrainian brigades equipped and trained for one of the most difficult maneuvers in land warfare: a breach.
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David Axe, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
However, the war has reached a new stage as Zelensky confirmed on Saturday that Ukrainian forces moved into Russia as part of a surprise counteroffensive.
—Conrad Hoyt, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Aug. 2024
Advertisement Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war — triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and an Israeli counteroffensive that has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians — Barghouti has been lobbying Americans to intervene.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2024
Moscow’s slow, grinding offensive along the entire frontline has been forcing Ukraine to commit to defensive operations rather than gear up for a counteroffensive.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for counteroffensive 
David Axe, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024
However, the war has reached a new stage as Zelensky confirmed on Saturday that Ukrainian forces moved into Russia as part of a surprise counteroffensive.
—Conrad Hoyt, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Aug. 2024
Advertisement Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war — triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and an Israeli counteroffensive that has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians — Barghouti has been lobbying Americans to intervene.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2024
Moscow’s slow, grinding offensive along the entire frontline has been forcing Ukraine to commit to defensive operations rather than gear up for a counteroffensive.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for counteroffensive
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Cite this Entry
“Counteroffensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counteroffensive. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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