countercoup
noun
coun·ter·coup
ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈkü 
variants
or counter-coup
plural countercoups or counter-coups
: a coup d'état to overthrow or alter a government that was established by an earlier coup d'état
… in 1963, the Baathists had seized power in a coup only to lose it nine months later in a countercoup …—
Jason Zengerle
Jason ZengerleExamples of countercoup in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Coups and countercoups, violence and assassinations, human rights abuses—all formed part of regular political life.
—Steven Radelet, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2015
When Hamad finally took power from his father in a peaceful coup in 1995, Saudi Arabia allegedly backed a countercoup to restore Khalifa.
—David B. Roberts, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2017
The Gulf’s immediate future is likely to be marked by many more such coup and countercoup attempts.
—Christopher Davidson, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2013
The king and his family then relocated to northern Greece, seeking to lead a countercoup.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2023
Security forces thwarted the countercoup against coup leader Col. Assimi Goïta, according to a government statement.
—Washington Post, 17 May 2022
Security forces thwarted the countercoup against two-time coup leader Col. Assimi Goita, according to a government statement.
—Baba Ahmed, ajc, 17 May 2022
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Steven Radelet, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2015
When Hamad finally took power from his father in a peaceful coup in 1995, Saudi Arabia allegedly backed a countercoup to restore Khalifa.
—David B. Roberts, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2017
The Gulf’s immediate future is likely to be marked by many more such coup and countercoup attempts.
—Christopher Davidson, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2013
The king and his family then relocated to northern Greece, seeking to lead a countercoup.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2023
Security forces thwarted the countercoup against coup leader Col. Assimi Goïta, according to a government statement.
—Washington Post, 17 May 2022
Security forces thwarted the countercoup against two-time coup leader Col. Assimi Goita, according to a government statement.
—Baba Ahmed, ajc, 17 May 2022
Cite this Entry
“Countercoup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/countercoup. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share