What does "counterpunch" mean?

A punch delivered in response to a previous punch by somebody else, such as an opponent in a boxing match: a return blow, a retaliatory blow.

What is a synonym for "counterpunch"?

Common synonyms include: counter, counterattack, counterblow, counterblow, counterstrike, parry.

noun, verb

noun, verb ·3 syllables ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Noun

1
A punch delivered in response to a previous punch by somebody else, such as an opponent in a boxing match: a return blow, a retaliatory blow.
"Near-synonyms: counterattack, counterstrike"
2
a return punch (especially by a boxer) wordnet
3
A punch used in the cutting of other punches, often used to create the negative space in or around a glyph. historical

Verb

1
To deliver a punch designed to exploit an opponent's momentary defensive weakness caused by a punch thrown by the opponent.
2
To deliver a competitive response to an opponent designed to exploit a weakness created by the opponent's offensive efforts.
"She stands just a little over 5-foot-6, but her two-handed ground strokes off both wings, inspired by the four-time Australian Open champion Monica Seles, allow her to create sharp angles and counterpunching power."

"Near-synonyms: counterattack, counterstrike"

From counter- + punch.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.