as in attack
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack
suddenly the tide of battle turned, and the rebels, who had been falling back, made a furious counterattack
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of counterattack
Image Despite a 15-month counterattack that has decimated Gaza and killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, many Israelis now fear that the country has failed in its wartime objectives.
—
Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
But Russia has since amassed thousands of troops in a counterattack.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 28 Dec. 2024
The legal counterattack by Exxon also evoked a lawsuit that Energy Transfer, a pipeline company.
—Karen Zraick, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
The Syrian Army now, along with Russia, is likely preparing for a counterattack, in particular in Hama and other places.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for counterattack 
Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
But Russia has since amassed thousands of troops in a counterattack.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 28 Dec. 2024
The legal counterattack by Exxon also evoked a lawsuit that Energy Transfer, a pipeline company.
—Karen Zraick, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
The Syrian Army now, along with Russia, is likely preparing for a counterattack, in particular in Hama and other places.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for counterattack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterattack
Noun
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Fierce fighting and long-range attacks continued as Kyiv and Moscow prepare for the revival of talks.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
17 Feb. 2025
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Former President Joe Biden issued Fauci a pre-emptive federal pardon as a hedge against what Biden said could be politically motivated attacks.—
Jim Turner,
Orlando Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Workers from across the federal government set off a legal counteroffensive against President Trump and Elon Musk on Tuesday, challenging the legality of efforts to raze their agencies, single them out publicly or push them out of their jobs.—
Mattathias Schwartz,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2025
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As Democrats on Capitol Hill and in blue states come up with counteroffensives, others on the political left at the grassroots level said advocacy groups will have to be more disciplined with raising awareness and picking strategic battles.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA TODAY,
2 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.—
Jacky Wong,
WSJ,
6 Feb. 2023
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Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
31 Jan. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near counterattack
Cite this Entry
“Counterattack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterattack. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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