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🛡️ A terrorism fighter 🛡️ Against terrorism
counterterrorist

counterterrorist

1 6.5
Intended to stop or fight terrorism
  • adjective
  • /ˌkaʊntərˈtɛrəˌrɪst/
  • Formal
translation icon : contraterrorista
  • To combat rising threats, the nation increased funding for counterterrorist initiatives and intelligence operations.
  • counterterrorist financing

Examples

  • It has since supported resolutions imposing and then tightening sanctions on Iran and backed a rare condemnatory statement from the Financial Action Task Force, the international standard setter on money laundering and counterterrorist finance issues.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The third issue to be analyzed is the relationship between military and police forces in the counterterrorist campaign of democratic nations.

    Academic text (2004)

  • Instead, it has combined conventional and counterterrorist strategies in an ill-coordinated and incoherent mishmash.

    Academic text (2009)

  • In addition, European countries have also created or designated specific government agencies to lead the counterterrorist financing efforts, criminalized terrorist financing, and developed systems to freeze assets, among other changes.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Although these export-control related actions were taken primarily in response to U.S. pressure to crack down on trade with Iran, the closer scrutiny has had benefits for the UAE's counterterrorist financing efforts as well.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Governments around the world have implemented counterterrorist measures to protect their citizens from attacks.

  • The military adopted counterterrorist tactics to neutralize threats during the operation.

Synonyms

antiterrorist
vscounterterrorist
1 3.9

Used to prevent or fight terrorism

is more general in wording focusing on intent rather than role
counterterror
vscounterterrorist
  • Formal
7.2

Help prevent or fight terrorism

is identical in purpose and usage rather than differing in scope
antiterror
vscounterterrorist
4.9

Actions taken to prevent or fight terrorist attacks

emphasizes direct purpose rather than merely relating to measures
antiterrorism
vscounterterrorist
4.1

Relating to actions to stop terrorism

is narrower in active focus stressing prevention or combat rather than policy

Compounds

Counterterrorist Center
  • Formal
1 4.5

A United States intelligence group that coordinates efforts to stop terrorist attacks

How Forceful

military
∞ 2.5
aggressive
248 3.6
counterterrorist
  • Formal
1 6.5
defensive
346 3.8
preventive
57 3.8

Surface Forms

counterterrorist positive

Morphology

counterterrorist = terrorist (transparent) = counter + terr + or + ist

This adjectival form is created by adding 'counter-' to 'terrorist', so the opposition-based meaning is straightforward.

Etymology

Counterterrorist comes from counter- ('against') and terror ('fear'), just like in counterattack and terrify. So something described as counterterrorist is made or planned to act against terrorism to stop or fight it.