as in complaint
a court case brought against the plaintiff of another court case by the defendant
The defendant filed a counterclaim for his own injuries, claiming that he only rear-ended the plaintiff because she had stopped too fast.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of counterclaim
Frictions have also worsened in the South China Sea, much of which China asserts falls within its maritime territory despite counterclaims from several other regional countries.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Christina Haack's Ex Ant Anstead Tags Her in Instagram Stories After Re-Following Her Post Divorce
On April 26, the company filed a counterclaim against Velasco, Behle and others.
—Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Amid the claims and counterclaims about negotiations to end the war, tensions between Moscow and NATO are likely to increase, especially if the alliance's European members bear more of the brunt of support for Ukraine.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Each day brings a new round of claims and counterclaims, a confusing collision of the actual, the improbable, and the outright ridiculous.
—Glenn Adamson, ARTnews.com, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for counterclaim 
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Christina Haack's Ex Ant Anstead Tags Her in Instagram Stories After Re-Following Her Post Divorce
On April 26, the company filed a counterclaim against Velasco, Behle and others.
—Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Amid the claims and counterclaims about negotiations to end the war, tensions between Moscow and NATO are likely to increase, especially if the alliance's European members bear more of the brunt of support for Ukraine.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Each day brings a new round of claims and counterclaims, a confusing collision of the actual, the improbable, and the outright ridiculous.
—Glenn Adamson, ARTnews.com, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for counterclaim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterclaim
Noun
-
Several workers at the facility filed complaints with the NLRB last week alleging Amazon had retaliated against them for their union activity, including firing them or withholding benefits.—
Greg Bensinger,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
-
One of the messages sent to the boys from an individual later identified by authorities as Brett Bonini asked the two to pull down their pants and rub each others’ genitals over video chat in exchange for 25,000 in Roblox currency, according to the complaint.—
Silas Morgan,
Orlando Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Maddox said a similar microcosm exists on the descendants’ side, with some supporting the foundation and others calling for class-action lawsuits.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
-
The administration currently faces approximately 70 lawsuits over various executive actions.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In November 2017, as the litigation went on, the results of the clinical trial that the charity helped fund were published.—
Robin Fields,
CNN,
17 Feb. 2025
-
The Illinois attorney general’s office also declined to comment due to the ongoing litigation.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Baldoni filed a countersuit against Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane and Sloane's PR firm Vision PR, Inc for $400 million on Jan. 16.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
5 Feb. 2025
-
According to Billboard, a hearing to consider Wood’s request to dismiss Warner’s countersuit is now set for April 11.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near counterclaim
Cite this Entry
“Counterclaim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterclaim. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share