What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
counterattack
Example
The army launched a counterattack against the enemy's forces. [counterattack: noun]
Example
After being criticized by his opponent, the politician launched a counterattack against their policies. [counterattack: verb]
counteroffensive
Example
The general ordered a counteroffensive against the enemy's position. [counteroffensive: noun]
Example
The company launched a counteroffensive against its competitors by introducing new products and services. [counteroffensive: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Counterattack is more commonly used than counteroffensive in everyday language, especially in sports contexts. Counteroffensive is more specialized and is primarily used in military and business contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between counterattack and counteroffensive?
Counteroffensive is generally considered more formal than counterattack, due to its association with serious and weighty contexts such as military and business situations. However, both words can be used in a range of formality levels depending on the context.
