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counterblow

counterblow

7.9
A hit given back after an attack
  • noun
  • /ˈkaʊntərˌbloʊ/
translation icon : contragolpe
  • In a moment of frustration, she aimed a counterblow at the aggressor.
  • blow and counterblow

Examples

  • He delivered a powerful counterblow that stunned his opponent.

  • The counterblow of karma inevitably follows.

    Blog text (31)
  • After that, the struggle disintegrated into a flurry of half-seen, half-felt, and half-remembered blows and counterblows, strike and counterstrike.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The boxer was trained to respond quickly with a counterblow after receiving a strike.

Synonyms

reprisal
vscounterblow
  • Formal
37 8.3

An action that hurts someone in return for an attack

is a retaliatory strike that is usually immediate and physical rather than large scale
counterpunch
vscounterblow
3 6.5

A punch thrown back at an opponent after they attack

is any retaliatory strike beyond a single boxing punch
countermove
vscounterblow
2 6.7

An action to respond to an opponent and get back an advantage

is a retaliatory strike focusing on hitting back rather than tactical repositioning
riposte
vscounterblow
  • Specialized
1 9.4

A quick counterattack after blocking an opponent's lunge

is a retaliatory strike that is not necessarily immediate or from parry
countershot
vscounterblow
8.5

A shot made in reply to another person's shot

is a retaliatory strike covering blows beyond projectile attacks
counterthrust
vscounterblow
8.2

A sharp reply that answers an accusation or argument

is a retaliatory strike that usually means a physical blow not verbal reply

Antonyms

77 4.2

Giving up after defeat, for example when an army stops fighting

How Forceful

knockout
39 3.9
counterblow
7.9
blow
271 2.0
hit
459 1.0
to tap
174 1.0

Surface Forms

counterblow singular
counterblows plural

Morphology

counterblow = blow (transparent) = counter + blow

Direct, regular formation from the productive prefix 'counter-' (against/retaliatory) plus 'blow', yielding 'a retaliatory strike'.

Etymology

The word counterblow joins counter- meaning 'against' or 'in return' and blow meaning 'a strike', like in counterattack. So a counterblow is a strike given back in response to an attack.