🔁 A return attack 🔁 To attack back

to counterattack

12 4.9

To attack back after an enemy attacks to stop their advance

verb
/ˈkaʊntərəˌtæk/

: contraatacar

In response to the enemy's assault, the army planned to counterattack at dawn.
forced to counterattack

Examples

That winter, Austrian troops finally capture Belgrade, but the Serbs then counterattack and drive them back once more.
I will be counterattacking, sir!

Cross of Iron (1977)
I have access to their plans to counterattack our forces in the capital city.

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (2012)
NATO will counterattack with nuclear weapons.

Octopussy (1983)
We'll counterattack with the catapults.

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
The two groups would attack and counterattack until one side surrendered.

Fiction book (1995)
You'll draw their fire while I counterattack.

Suburban Commando (1991)
Then, we will counterattack Sparta and its allies by sea.

Fiction book (2002)
When the Union forces regroup and counterattack, that line will divide in two.

Field of Lost Shoes (2015)
However, we were able to stop them here with help from the 12th SS Panzer Division which is counterattacking at the moment.

The Night of the Generals (1967)

Synonyms

to fight back

vsto counterattack

188 3.3

Resist an attack or criticism by responding

is primarily an offensive action taken back against an attacker

to retaliate

vsto counterattack

105 7.3

To hurt someone because they hurt you

is specifically a physical attack made directly in response

to avenge

vsto counterattack

95 4.9

Punish someone who hurt you or someone you care about

is a tactical military response rather than a moral punishment act

to strike back

vsto counterattack

34 4.9

To fight back after someone attacks or hurts you

is focused on a direct forceful response to an enemy attack

to counterstrike

vsto counterattack

1 7.5

To attack back after someone attacks you

is the common term for the same retaliatory military action

to counterbattery

vsto counterattack

Specialized

9.8

To fire at enemy heavy guns to stop them

is a general retaliatory attack not limited to artillery targets

Antonyms

to submit

187 4.1

To accept another person's control, often against your wishes

surrender

77 4.2

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

How Strong

to counterattack

12 4.9

to retaliate

105 7.3

to strike back

34 4.9

Surface Forms

counterattack infinitive

counterattacked past

counterattacked past participle

counterattacking present participle

counterattacks third person singular

Morphology

counterattack = attack (transparent) = counter + attack

Productive prefixation of 'counter-' to the verb 'attack' yields the clear meaning 'to attack in response'.

Etymology

Counterattack comes from the parts counter and attack, with counter meaning 'against' and attack meaning 'to strike'. So to counterattack is to 'strike back' after someone attacks you, that is, to attack in return.