counterattack
- noun
- /ˈkaʊntərəˌtæk/
- In response to the surprise assault, the commander ordered a counterattack at dawn.
- attacks and counterattacks
- launch a counterattack
- effective counterattack
Examples
-
Israel's leaders agreed and decided to launch a large-scale counterattack, using IDV plans that had been prepared in advance.
Academic text (2006) -
We regroup our forces for a counterattack
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You men will be the first wave in our counterattack.
-
The first two ships are in position for counterattack.
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So what's the plan for the counterattack?
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You could have warned us before we launched a counterattack that cost us hundreds of American pilots!
Fiction book (1996) -
"They say their army's ready for any counterattack from the north."
-
American representatives at the United Nations and elsewhere in Paris soon launched a counterattack on the CRC appeal.
Academic text (1997) -
The EPLA later recovered their lost ground in a series of counterattacks.
Academic text (1990) -
The second half began where the first one left off, with England and Algeria exchanging counterattacks.
Academic text (2010)
Synonyms
An action that hurts someone in return for an attack
A punch thrown back at an opponent after they attack
A large military attack by a defending army to push back attackers
An action to respond to an opponent and get back an advantage
Forcing enemy soldiers to withdraw to regain lost land
A quick counterattack after blocking an opponent's lunge
Moves that attack to reduce an opponent's advantage
An attack that forces enemy soldiers to move back
A hit given back after an attack
A quick attack made in response to an opponent's move, often in fencing
A shot made in reply to another person's shot
An attack using heavy guns to destroy the enemy's weapons
Antonyms
How Strong
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Counterattack is made of counter and attack, where counter means 'against' and attack means 'to strike'. So a counterattack is an attack made in response to an enemy's attack, often to take back what was lost.