counterstrike
noun
coun·ter·strike
ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌstrīk 
variants
or counter-strike
plural counterstrikes or counter-strikes
: a strike that retaliates against or counters earlier strike : a return strike
government counterstrikes against the rebel stronghold
… the belief on both sides that any attack would be met with an equally devastating counterstrike.—
W. J. Hennigan and Brian Bennett
W. J. Hennigan and Brian BennettExamples of counterstrike in a Sentence
after countless strikes and counterstrikes, the positions of both armies remained essentially unchanged
Recent Examples on the Web
The United States led a regional coalition to shoot down practically all of Iran’s missiles, and Israeli counterstrikes destroyed much of Iran’s air defenses.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
Trump, meanwhile, also indicated the U.S. wouldn’t seek to escalate any military action after Iran launched counterstrikes on Monday against a U.S. military base in Qatar.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
And recently, Israeli spies and pilots have managed to cripple Iranian counterstrike capabilities.
—Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 17 June 2025
Iran’s counterstrikes at Israel and the widening of the domestic damage in each country suggests that a much longer attritional struggle to induce regime change by each side is on the cards.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterstrike
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.
Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
Trump, meanwhile, also indicated the U.S. wouldn’t seek to escalate any military action after Iran launched counterstrikes on Monday against a U.S. military base in Qatar.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
And recently, Israeli spies and pilots have managed to cripple Iranian counterstrike capabilities.
—Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 17 June 2025
Iran’s counterstrikes at Israel and the widening of the domestic damage in each country suggests that a much longer attritional struggle to induce regime change by each side is on the cards.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterstrike
Cite this Entry
“Counterstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterstrike. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share