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 forces. [counterattack: noun]
Example
The team decided to counterattack after successfully defending their goal. [counterattack: verb]
reprisal
Example
The country threatened to take reprisals against its neighbor if they did not stop their aggressive behavior. [reprisal: noun]
Example
The company took reprisals against the employee who leaked confidential information. [reprisals: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Counterattack is more commonly used than reprisal in everyday language, especially in military or sports contexts. Reprisal is less common and often associated with more serious or extreme situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between counterattack and reprisal?
Counterattack is generally considered a formal term, while reprisal can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the situation.
