Counterpunch

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A quick return punch thrown immediately after blocking or dodging an opponent's blow ; a sharp reply or retort made in response to someone's attack
2. A swift counterblow aimed back at an opponent right after an incoming punch is avoided ; a pointed rebuttal hurled back at a critic during an argument
3. A rapid punch landed in reply to an opponent's attack after evading it ; a retaliatory response that answers an accusation or challenge with equal force

Etymology: "Counterpunch" is a compound of "counter-" and "punch," and the two parts are older than the combined word. "Counter-" comes from Old French "contre" (against), ultimately from Latin "contra," and it has long meant a blow or action directed back against an opponent's. "Punch" is the older of the two in English, referring to a blow with the fist, and the pairing produces a clear picture: a return strike delivered against an attack. The sense has stayed close to its origin. In boxing, a counterpunch is a quick blow thrown just after an opponent has landed one, which is why the word also appears as a verb meaning to respond to a strike in this way. Beyond the ring, the term is used figuratively for any swift answer to an attack, whether a rebuttal in argument or a retaliatory move in politics.

Synonyms: counterattack, riposte, counterblow, rebuttal