as in counterattack
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack
after countless strikes and counterstrikes, the positions of both armies remained essentially unchanged
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Recent Examples of counterstrike
Iran launched counterstrikes on Israel as evening fell over Tel Aviv, some of the missiles breaking through the Iron Dome and hitting targets in the city as officials urged Israeli citizens to remain in bomb shelters.
—
Peter Aitken
tom O'Connor Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Though the conflict has taken a toll (Iran’s indiscriminate ballistic missile attacks have killed dozens of Israelis and injured hundreds more), the Iranian counterstrikes have not destroyed any significant strategic targets.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 June 2025
Israel is preparing an attack on Iran, according to U.S. and European officials, and Tehran has reportedly planned an immediate counterstrike with hundreds of ballistic missiles.
—Yezen Saadah, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
The most dangerous scenario is one in which an Indian military response provokes a stronger Pakistani counterstrike, setting off a chain reaction that neither side can easily control.
—Sushant Singh, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterstrike
Peter Aitken
tom O'Connor Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Though the conflict has taken a toll (Iran’s indiscriminate ballistic missile attacks have killed dozens of Israelis and injured hundreds more), the Iranian counterstrikes have not destroyed any significant strategic targets.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 June 2025
Israel is preparing an attack on Iran, according to U.S. and European officials, and Tehran has reportedly planned an immediate counterstrike with hundreds of ballistic missiles.
—Yezen Saadah, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
The most dangerous scenario is one in which an Indian military response provokes a stronger Pakistani counterstrike, setting off a chain reaction that neither side can easily control.
—Sushant Singh, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterstrike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterstrike
counterattack
Noun
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The counterattack also forced Israel to use its fighter jets to further target Iranian launch sites over the course of a 12-day war that cost Israel hundreds of millions of dollars a day.—
Michael C. Horowitz,
Foreign Affairs,
4 July 2025
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Either initiating or finishing breaks, set pieces and counterattacks, the 5-foot-8½ veteran of six European leagues often did it with aplomb.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterstrike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterstrike. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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