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 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
The technology differentiated among different dialects in Lebanon to gauge public reaction, helping Israel to assess if there was public pressure for a counterstrike.
—Sheera Frenkel, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
As the 2018 elections approached, U.S. Cyber Command conducted counterstrikes on Russian hackers and intelligence agencies.
—David E. Sanger, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
They were equally divided, with 50 percent supporting a counterstrike if the Chinese attack resulted in no casualties.
—Alexandra Chinchilla, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterstrike
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Sushant Singh, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025
The technology differentiated among different dialects in Lebanon to gauge public reaction, helping Israel to assess if there was public pressure for a counterstrike.
—Sheera Frenkel, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
As the 2018 elections approached, U.S. Cyber Command conducted counterstrikes on Russian hackers and intelligence agencies.
—David E. Sanger, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
They were equally divided, with 50 percent supporting a counterstrike if the Chinese attack resulted in no casualties.
—Alexandra Chinchilla, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 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 23 May. 2025.
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