tour de force

noun

ˌtu̇r-də-ˈfȯrs 

plural tours de force ˌtu̇r-də-ˈfȯrs 

: a feat or display of strength, skill, or ingenuity

the movie is a comic tour de force

Synonyms

• deed
• exploit
• feat
• number
• stunt
• trick

Examples of tour de force in a Sentence

The book is a tour de force.

Her performance in the play was a real tour de force.

Recent Examples on the Web

My favourite is the tour de force on the wall of a pet shop near Leeds United’s stadium, depicting him as Christ the Redeemer (above). —Phil Hay, New York Times, 22 May 2025

Writing in this week's issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team reveals that the entire flamingo feeding process is actually a tour de force in fluid dynamics. —Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 16 May 2025

The Free State Strategy will be a tour de force, not through top-down mandates, but by unlocking the democratic potential of our neighbors and ourselves. —Will Fries, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025

Bruma is another architectural tour de force by D’Acosta, with an underground barrel room tent-poled by an oak tree trunk. —Anya Von Bremzen, AFAR Media, 8 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tour de force

• counterforce
• intercourse
• nonrecourse
• reinforce
• watercourse
• bourse
• coarse
• course
• gorse
• hoarse
• horse
• norse