coun‧ter‧at‧tack /ˈkaʊntərəˌtæk/ noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: attack, counterattack, attacker; verb: attack, counterattack; adjective: attacking, counterattacking]
an attack you make against someone who has attacked you, in a war, sport, or argument
—counterattack verb [intransitive and transitive]

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

attack noun [uncountable and countable] an act of using weapons against an enemy in a war:
The US was threatening to launch an attack on Iran.
The men had been carrying out rocket attacks on British forces.
Bombs have been falling throughout the night, and the city is still under attack (=being attacked).
invasion noun [uncountable and countable] an occasion when an army enters a country and tries to take control of it:
The Allies began their invasion of Europe.
The threat of foreign invasion is very real.
raid noun [countable] a short attack on a place by soldiers or planes, intended to cause damage but not take control:
an air raid
NATO warplanes carried out a series of bombing raids on the city.
The village has been the target of frequent raids by rebel groups.
strike noun [countable] a sudden military attack, especially after a serious disagreement:
Senior Israeli officials warned that they were still considering a military strike.
the possibility of a nuclear strike
assault noun [countable] a military attack intended to take control of a city, area, or building controlled by an enemy:
The final military assault on Kwangju began at 3 am on May 27.
Hitler launched an all-out assault (=using as many soldiers, weapons, planes etc as possible) on Russia.
ambush noun [uncountable and countable] a sudden attack by people who have been waiting and hiding, especially an attack on a vehicle or people who are travelling somewhere:
Five soldiers were shot in the back and killled in the ambush.
Enemy forces waiting in ambush opened fire on the vehicle.
counterattack noun [uncountable and countable] a military attack made in response to an attack by an enemy:
Government forces launched a counterattack against the guerillas.
If they successfully occupied the city, they would need to be capable of defending it against enemy counterattack.
onslaught noun [countable] formal a large violent attack by an army:
In 1544 there was a full-scale onslaught on France, in which the English took Boulogne.
The troops were preparing for another onslaught against the enemy.
mug to attack someone and take money from them in a public place such as a street:
He was mugged on his way home from school.
stab to attack someone with a knife:
The victim had been stabbed in the neck.
be set upon by somebody/something written to be attacked by a group of people:
He died outside his home after being set upon by a gang of youths.
turn on to suddenly change your behaviour and attack the person you are with, when they do not expect this:
The dog suddenly turned on him, sinking its teeth into his arm.
invade to enter a country and try to get control of it using force:
The Romans invaded Britain 2,000 years ago.
storm to suddenly attack a city or building that is well defended by getting inside it and taking control:
Elite troops stormed the building and rescued the hostages.
besiege /bɪˈsiːdʒ/ to surround a city or building with soldiers in order to stop the people inside from getting out or from receiving supplies:
In April 655, Osman’s palace was besieged by rebels.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲