Definition of counterattacknext
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

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 counterattack In the 26th minute, Denver caught Chicago on the counterattack. — Spencer Baldwin, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026 Ali dominated early, before Frazier mounted a ferocious counterattack in the middle. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026 Varas acknowledged after the Philadelphia loss that San Diego has struggled with turnovers and its positioning when trying to prevent counterattacks. — Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026 Ukrainian counterattacks against Russian refineries have also sparked fuel shortages. — Victoria Hoffmann, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for counterattack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterattack
Noun
  • On three separate occasions in the past week, Ukraine didn’t receive early warnings about missile attacks.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026
  • OpenCode had been running its defense with an OpenAI model, which started to refuse its requests in the middle of the attack.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Russia occupied Izyum, where Fox said her brother settled, for six months in 2022, but Ukraine later recaptured it in a major counteroffensive.
    — Garrett Haake, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, a Ukrainian counteroffensive drove the occupiers out.
    — Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Lula seized on these acts as meddling in the campaign, and as an assault on Brazilian sovereignty encouraged by the Bolsonaro family.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
  • All this was happening with a coincident and successful assault of affirmative action in higher education.
    — Kamau Bobb October 21, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Counterattack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterattack. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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