An attack or blow delivered in response to or in opposition to another strike or attack.
From 'counter-' plus 'strike' (from Old English 'strican' meaning to go or move). Emerges in military and martial terminology to describe responsive attacks.
In military doctrine, counterstrikes are strategically crucial because they show you won't accept the enemy's opening move—NATO's nuclear policy essentially relies on the threat of devastating counterstrikes to prevent war, turning the ability to retaliate into a peace mechanism.
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