counteroffensive
4
8.8
- noun
- /ˌkaʊntərəˈfɛnsɪv/
- Specialized
:
contraofensiva
- If he discovers what we're doing, he could mount a counteroffensive.
Examples
-
They want to organize a counteroffensive.
-
Our expectation is for a counteroffensive.
-
What we're planning at this time is to launch a counteroffensive.
-
We're planning to launch a counteroffensive...
Fiction book (1996) -
Then free our people from the detention cells below and launch a counteroffensive from within.
-
I am convinced that the counteroffensive begun by The Other Path in the world of ideas quickly moved to the world of politics.
Academic text (1997) -
The administration, the environmental community, and the businesses that stood to benefit failed to mount a public relations counteroffensive.
Academic text (1997) -
Every attempt at a counteroffensive was met with stiff resistance, followed by a quick and ruthless attack.
Blog text (26) -
We've got to organize a counteroffensive.
Academic text (1994) -
Iraqi forces today launched a counteroffensive in Anbar to try to regain some of their losses.
Synonyms
28
4.3
An attack made in response to an enemy's attack to regain lost ground
2
6.8
An attack by an army in response to an enemy attack
2
6.7
An action to respond to an opponent and get back an advantage
1
6.2
An attack that forces enemy soldiers to move back
A quick attack made in response to an opponent's move, often in fencing
A hit given back after an attack
How Large
476
4.3
159
7.4
- Specialized
4
8.8
12
4.9
373
4.9
22
6.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word counteroffensive comes from counter- meaning 'against' and offensive meaning 'attack', so think of it like the familiar word counterattack. That's why a counteroffensive is a large attack by a defending army to push back the enemy and take back control.