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
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
Conversely, South Korea and the United States will want to know more about Japan’s future counterstrike capabilities announced in its 2022 National Security Strategy.
—Andrew Yeo, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2023
In its report on Chinese military power, the Pentagon said the LPARs supported China's implementation of the early warning counterstrike nuclear posture, which provides missile warning that leads to the country's counterstrike before an enemy first strike can detonate.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterstrike
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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
Conversely, South Korea and the United States will want to know more about Japan’s future counterstrike capabilities announced in its 2022 National Security Strategy.
—Andrew Yeo, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2023
In its report on Chinese military power, the Pentagon said the LPARs supported China's implementation of the early warning counterstrike nuclear posture, which provides missile warning that leads to the country's counterstrike before an enemy first strike can detonate.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 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 25 Apr. 2025.
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