counteroffensive
Attack after retreating
A counteroffensive is a large-scale military attack launched by forces that have been defending against an enemy's advance.
It marks a strategic shift from holding ground to actively pushing back: Ukraine launched a counteroffensive to reclaim occupied territory.
The term applies to any major coordinated effort to reverse losses after a period on the defensive.
Retaliatory military action
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- counterblowRetaliatory strike
- counterpunchRetaliatory boxing blow
- countermeasureDefense against a threat
counteraction · retribution · payback · response · riposte · pushback · fightback · recapture
Recovery of something lost
- reconquestRegaining seized territory
- liberationRelease from constraint
- retakingCapturing something anew
- regainingRecovering something lost
recapturing · restoration · reversal · resurgence · comeback · turnaround · rally · rebound
Violent offensive act
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- operationProcess of working
- blitzkriegFast, overwhelming military campaign
- flankingAt the sides of
encirclement · artillery · barrage · infantry · armor · brigade · battalion · airborne
Open resistance to authority
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
fightback · holdout · fortitude · tenacity · steadfastness · resilience · perseverance · resolve
Methods to achieve goals
- planningArranging for future events
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
- logisticsCoordination of complex activities
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
intelligence · doctrine · battleplan · command · initiative · formation · engagement · warfare
counterstrike
Retaliatory military action
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- counterblowRetaliatory strike
- counterpunchRetaliatory boxing blow
countermeasure · counteraction · retribution · payback · response · riposte · pushback · fightback · recapture
reclamation
Recovery of something lost
- reconquestRegaining seized territory
- liberationRelease from constraint
- retakingCapturing something anew
regaining · recapturing · restoration · reversal · resurgence · comeback · turnaround · rally · rebound · regrouping
assault
Violent offensive act
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- operationProcess of working
- blitzkriegFast, overwhelming military campaign
flanking · encirclement · artillery · barrage · infantry · armor · brigade · battalion · airborne · maneuver
defiance
Open resistance to authority
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
uprising · fightback · holdout · fortitude · tenacity · steadfastness · resilience · perseverance · resolve · guerrilla
tactics
Methods to achieve goals
- planningArranging for future events
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
- logisticsCoordination of complex activities
coordination · intelligence · doctrine · battleplan · command · initiative · formation · engagement · warfare · ambush
- Battle of the BulgeBattle of the Bulge, Bastogne, Patton, McAuliffe, 101st Airborne
- counterattackscounterblow, counterstrike, counterpunch, countercharge, riposte
- Eastern FrontStalingrad, Kursk, Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev
- Low Countries WWIIArnhem, Bastogne, Antwerp, Brussels, Battle of the Bulge
- military operationsattack, marines, Desert Storm, NATO operations, raid
- military tacticstactics, flanking, maneuver, ambush, battle formations
counteroffensiveoffensive
Causing displeasure or attack-oriented
first strike · attack · invasion · assault · aggression
counteroffensivedefense
Protection against harm
defensive · retreat · withdrawal · holding action · surrender
counteroffensiveceasefire
Agreed halt to fighting
armistice · peace treaty · truce · forgiveness · reconciliation
offense, offensive, defensive, counterattack, inoffensive, offensively, defensively, unoffensive, defensiveness