coup d'état

noun

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\ ˌkü-(ˌ)dā-ˈtä

, ˈkü-(ˌ)dā-ˌtä, -də- \

variants: or coup d'etat

plural coups d'état or coups d'etat\ ˌkü-(ˌ)dā-ˈtä

, ˈkü-(ˌ)dā-ˌtä , -də- \ also coup d'états or coup d'etats

Definition of coup d'état

: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics especially : the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group a military coup d'état of the dictator

Examples of coup d'état in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Great does an excellent job of tempering the gravity of a coup d'etat with the sheer ridiculousness of the Russian court. — Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 5 Jan. 2021 The Great does an excellent job of tempering the gravity of a coup d'etat with the sheer ridiculousness of the Russian court. — Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 5 Jan. 2021 The Great does an excellent job of tempering the gravity of a coup d'etat with the sheer ridiculousness of the Russian court. — Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 5 Jan. 2021 The Great does an excellent job of tempering the gravity of a coup d'etat with the sheer ridiculousness of the Russian court. — Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 5 Jan. 2021 The Great does an excellent job of tempering the gravity of a coup d'etat with the sheer ridiculousness of the Russian court. — Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 5 Jan. 2021 The Great does an excellent job of tempering the gravity of a coup d'etat with the sheer ridiculousness of the Russian court. — Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 5 Jan. 2021 The Great does an excellent job of tempering the gravity of a coup d'etat with the sheer ridiculousness of the Russian court. — Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 5 Jan. 2021 The Great does an excellent job of tempering the gravity of a coup d'etat with the sheer ridiculousness of the Russian court. — Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 5 Jan. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coup d'état.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Coup d'état.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coup%20d%27%C3%A9tat. Accessed 15 Jun. 2021.

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