counterattack

American  

[kaun-ter-uh-tak, kaun-ter-uh-tak, kaun-ter-uh-tak] / ˈkaʊn tər əˌtæk, ˌkaʊn tər əˈtæk, ˈkaʊn tər əˌtæk /

noun

1. an attack made as an offset or reply to another attack.

2. Military. an attack by a ground combat unit to drive back an enemy attack.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make a counterattack against.

verb (used without object)

1. to deliver a counterattack.

counterattack British  

/ ˈkaʊntərəˌtæk /

noun

1. an attack in response to an attack

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verb

1. to make a counterattack (against)

Etymology

Origin of counterattack

First recorded in 1915–20; counter- + attack

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

counterattack

Days before that event, the news leaked out, giving PepsiCo a chance to counterattack with full-page newspaper ads.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

Vasily Grossman brought a novelist’s eye to his reporting on the German invasion of the Soviet Union and the Red Army’s counterattack.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

The counterattack ended with Yamal firing a shot straight at Austria goalkeeper Alex Schlager one minute into the game.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

Mateo Chávez opened the scoring in the 55th minute with the help of Mexico’s lethal counterattack.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

Brian Hanrahan reported that only the Sea Harriers’ counterattack prevented an outright catastrophe.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

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Related Words

• reprisal
• retribution
• revenge

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