Thesaurus results for COUNTERATTACKS

counterattacks

noun

variants or counter-attacks

plural of counterattack

as in attacks

an attack made to counter an enemy's attack suddenly the tide of battle turned, and the rebels, who had been falling back, made a furious counterattack

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of counterattacks For example, Way of the Sword rewards defensive play in the form of Issen, powerful counterattacks that are triggered by attacking before an enemy strikes. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026 Capcom is emphasizing deliberate blade-on-blade combat, with precise parries, directional deflects, Issen counterattacks, Reflex Combos, Oni Armaments, Oni Strength, Oni Agility, soul absorption, environmental attacks and dynamic dismemberment. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Second balls and counterattacks Hull’s prowess at mopping up second balls is not limited to McBurnie or advanced areas. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Oil prices jumped Monday morning as the latest cycle of attacks and counterattacks renewed fears of further disruption to flows through the Strait of Hormuz. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 July 2026 Morocco had more talent than Paraguay, more menacing technique and tactics, and, presumably, could mount more dangerous counterattacks. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026 Under coach Sergej Barbarez, a former professional poker player, the gritty Bosnians rarely gamble, instead playing a disciplined and physical style that emphasizes compactness and swift counterattacks. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Switzerland more than doubled Bosnia and Herzegovina’s possession in the first half, but did little with it as their fellow UEFA opponent defended with numbers in hopes of pouncing on counterattacks. — Josh Gross, Oc Register, 18 June 2026 Sun Yingsha’s speed, anticipation, backhand counterattacks, and composure under pressure have made her one of the greatest table-tennis athletes of all time. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterattacks

Noun

Russia pounded Kyiv for more than 12 hours in a sixth straight night of attacks, killing at least 12 people including six railway workers and an Indian citizen, and devastating civilian districts.

— Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Despite the recent attacks, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters in Caracas, Venezuela that 17 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, the largest amount since the conflict began.

— Gordon Lubold, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of attacks

Noun

The campaign has put pressure on Russian logistics in Crimea, giving Ukrainian forces a degree of battlefield momentum that Kyiv has not enjoyed since its successful counteroffensives around Kherson and Kharkiv in late 2022.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
But some officials believe Kyiv could have negotiated a peace agreement in mid-2022 if Washington had pushed its ally harder to engage in negotiations after the success of its Kherson and Kharkiv counteroffensives.

— Dafna H. Rand, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of counteroffensives

Noun

His defense attorney previously said the assaults were not politically motivated and that DeFoor suffers from mental health issues.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
The strikes marked the sixth straight day of heavy Russian attacks on Kyiv that began last week and are an unprecedented stretch of consecutive aerial assaults since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor more than 4½ years ago.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of assaults

Noun

The ministry plans to use attack drones in coordination with long-range missiles for more cost-effective counterstrikes.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Dozens of Iranians have died since the last bout of strikes and counterstrikes began, and thousands since February.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

Definition of counterstrikes

Browse Nearby Words

counterattackers

counterattacks

counterbalance

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“Counterattacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterattacks. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of counterattacks

noun

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