He met him with a counterstroke so swift, / That quite smit off his arme as he it up did lift.
Source: wiktionary
Counterstroke
/ˈkaʊntəstɹəʊk/
Synonyms for "counterstroke" (22 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (5)
Strong matches (6)
Related words (11)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: backfire, boomerang, comeback, counter, counterattack.
- Sentence evidence is available for counterstroke, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "counterstroke".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "counterstroke"
Keep "counterstroke" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "counterstroke" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "counterstroke", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "counterstroke" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Sample sentences
4 total sentences available.
The declaration of the Allied Governments that they will not conclude peace separately during the war or demand terms of peace without previous agreement with each other is an opportune counterstroke to the campaign initiated by Germany for the purpose of detaching France from Russia and especially from Britain.
Source: wiktionary
She could understand how a man like Monohan would hate a man like Jack Fyfe, would nurse and feed on the venom of his hate until setting a torch to Fyfe's timber would be a likely enough counterstroke.
Source: wiktionary
May 1947 EDISON'S CONQUEST OF MARS CHAPTER ONE "LET US GO TO MARS" It is impossible that the stupendous events which followed the disastrous invasion of the earth by the Martians should go without record, and circumstances having placed the facts at my disposal, I deem it a duty, both to posterity and to those who were witnesses of and participants in the avenging counterstroke that the earth dealt back at its ruthless enemy in the heavens, to write down the story in a connected form.
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "counterstroke"?
Closest matches include backfire, boomerang, comeback, counter, counterattack.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "counterstroke"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.