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counterpunch

American

[koun-ter-puhnch] / ˈkaʊn tərˌpʌntʃ /

noun

counterblow.

counterpunch British

/ ˈkaʊntəˌpʌntʃ /

verb

to punch an attacking opponent; return an attack

"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

noun

a return punch

"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

Etymology

Origin of counterpunch

First recorded in 1675–85; counter- + punch ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With every swing from USC’s offense early, Nebraska seemed to have a counterpunch.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2026

Typically, he loves to counterpunch against criticism, but oddly, this time, he didn’t.

From Barron's • Jan. 12, 2026

Yet both possess a knack for the quick counterpunch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

But Meta’s counterpunch might limit growth there as well.

From Slate • Oct. 30, 2023

His immediate reaction was to counterpunch but he held himself in control.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023