Counterattacks

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A response to an attack aimed at repelling or overcoming the initial aggressor; this involves coordinating efforts to regain control or assert dominance; it signifies a strategic move intended to disrupt an opponent's advance
2. A retaliatory action taken after being attacked, seeking to turn the tide against the assailant; this can encompass both physical and verbal confrontations; it serves to reassert strength and regain initiative
3. An offensive reaction that occurs following an initial assault, designed to reclaim territory or influence; this can involve various tactics to exploit the enemy's vulnerabilities; it aims to shift the momentum back in one's favor

Etymology: "Counterattacks" is simply the plural of "counterattack," so the history belongs to the singular noun. "Counter-" is a prefix meaning "against" or "in opposition," borrowed from the Latin "contra" (against) through Old French, and "attack" comes from the Old French "attaquer," which was itself shaped by the Italian "attaccare," meaning "to attach" or "to fasten." Put together, the compound describes an offensive move that opposes an earlier one, the reverse of what the original aggressor intended.

Synonyms: retaliations, responses, reactions, rebuttals, comebacks

Antonyms: surrenders, submissions, capitulations, yieldings, withdrawals