counterattacking
Returning offensive fire
Counterattacking is launching an attack in response to an enemy's attack—shifting from defense to offense.
The term applies in military contexts, sports, and figurative situations: The team excelled at counterattacking after absorbing early pressure.
A counterattacking strategy waits for opponents to commit forward before exploiting the space they leave behind.
Violent offensive act
- chargeCost or accusation
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- thrustForceful forward motion
- surgeSudden powerful increase
blitz · onslaught · sally · sortie · foray · push · advance · incursion
Surprise strike from concealment
- feintDeceptive mock attack
- flankingAt the sides of
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- pincerGrasping claw organ
deception · guerrilla · mobility · infiltration · skirmish · harassment · interdiction · reconnaissance
Punishing a wrongdoer
- vengeanceRetaliation for injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
reciprocity · tit-for-tat · counterblow · backlash · requital · countermeasure · answer · response
assault
Violent offensive act
surge · blitz · onslaught · sally · sortie · foray · push · advance · incursion · breakthrough
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
pincer · deception · guerrilla · mobility · infiltration · skirmish · harassment · interdiction · reconnaissance · lure
revenge
Punishing a wrongdoer
retribution · reciprocity · tit-for-tat · counterblow · backlash · requital · countermeasure · answer · response · reciprocate
parry
Defensive blade deflection
rebuff · deflect · counter · respond · react · neutralize · thwart · absorb · recover · transition
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- combat skillsgrappling, striking, blocking, parrying, dodging
counterattackingretreating
Moving back from advance
surrendering · capitulating · withdrawing · fleeing · falling back
counterattackingdefending
Protecting against harm
standing ground · fortifying · absorbing · yielding · conceding
counterattackingattacking
Actively engaging offensively
initiating · assaulting · offensive · aggressing · opening fire
attack, attacked, attacker, attacking, attacks, counterattack, countervail, counteraction, counterattacks