as in counterattack
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack
a feeble counterassault that proved to be entirely futile
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 counterassault
The Israeli counterassault over the last few days has killed at least 31 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip including seven children and four women, according to the U.N. humanitarian office.
—
Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 12 May 2023
The 77-minute siege ended with a counterassault led by a SWAT team from the US Border Patrol.
—ABC News, 13 Feb. 2023
Another risk is that Russia’s invasion and the West’s financial counterassault could prove more economically disruptive than the pandemic.
—Nick Timiraos, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022
Saturday’s assault included a volley of rockets that Ukrainian officials said damaged 47 apartment buildings and houses, adding that Ukraine cannot answer the attacks for fear that a counterassault would set off a radiation disaster.
—Vivian Yee, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2022
Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 12 May 2023
The 77-minute siege ended with a counterassault led by a SWAT team from the US Border Patrol.
—ABC News, 13 Feb. 2023
Another risk is that Russia’s invasion and the West’s financial counterassault could prove more economically disruptive than the pandemic.
—Nick Timiraos, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022
Saturday’s assault included a volley of rockets that Ukrainian officials said damaged 47 apartment buildings and houses, adding that Ukraine cannot answer the attacks for fear that a counterassault would set off a radiation disaster.
—Vivian Yee, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterassault
counterattack
Noun
-
The volume and intensity of incoming fire indicated a sizeable NVA force, a counterattack likely.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 May 2025
-
An orbital system would be complex, costly, and ultimately vulnerable to counterattack, warns Laura Grego, a physicist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a group skeptical of missile defense development.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Counterassault.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterassault. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share