counteroffensive

[ koun-ter-uh-fen-siv, koun-ter-uh-fen- ]

/ ˌkaʊn tər əˈfɛn sɪv, ˈkaʊn tər əˌfɛn- /

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See synonyms for counteroffensive on Thesaurus.com

noun Military.

an attack by an army against an attacking enemy force.

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Origin of counteroffensive

First recorded in 1915–20; counter- + offensive

Words nearby counteroffensive

countermeasure, countermelody, countermigration, countermine, countermove, counteroffensive, counteroffer, counterpane, counterpart, counterparty, counterparty risk

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use counteroffensive in a sentence

Whatever degree of American assistance the Kurds are receiving, they have already begun a counteroffensive.
Will U.S. Troops Stand By While ISIS Starves Thousands?|Jacob Siegel|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Approximately 90 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its counteroffensive—among them were 22 children.
Numbers Don’t Tell the Mideast Story|Thane Rosenbaum|July 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But after an intense counteroffensive by officials at the State Department and Justice Department, the status quo was restored.
Obama: I Make the Drone Decisions|Daniel Klaidman|May 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Or else what if he pulls a Rove counteroffensive and asks for release of 20 years of Obama tax returns.
Mitt’s Bizarre Lyme Disease Offensive|Kent Sepkowitz|October 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST

This is the inevitable second round, the anger counteroffensive.
Hilary Rosen, Ann Romney, and the Perpetual Outrage Industry|Howard Kurtz|April 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Von Boehn, therefore, was hurriedly detached rearward to deal with the Belgian counteroffensive.
The Story of the Great War, Volume II (of VIII)|Various
This was General Joffre's counteroffensive, and it developed in detail almost exactly along the lines that he had laid down.
The Story of the Great War, Volume II (of VIII)|Various
This counteroffensive had reached its end practically on July 6, 1918.
The Story of the Great War, Volume VIII (of VIII)|various
Since the beginning of the counteroffensive 30,000 German prisoners were taken.
The Story of the Great War, Volume VII (of VIII)|Various
South of the Lupkow the Germanic forces opened their counteroffensive on April 6, 1915.
The Story of the Great War, Volume III (of VIII)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for counteroffensive

counteroffensive

/ (ˈkaʊntərəˌfɛnsɪv) /

noun

a series of attacks by a defending force against an attacking enemy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

counteroffensive

Origin of counteroffensive

Words nearby counteroffensive

Words related to counteroffensive

How to use counteroffensive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for counteroffensive