coup de grâce

noun

ˌkü-də-ˈgräs How to pronounce coup de grâce (audio)
variants or coup de grace
Definition of coup de grâcenext
as in determinant
something (as a fact or argument) that is decisive or overwhelming the prosecutor presented his coupe de grâce—a videotape of the beating

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of coup de grâce But the coup de grace for the burglars came on April 9, when police arrested the 23-year-old and seized his phone. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 2 June 2026 Israel softened up the target; America delivered the coup de grace. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 July 2025 The coup de grace was delivered a minute into injury time as Mount seized on a poor clearance from Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. — Carl Anka, New York Times, 9 May 2025 The coup de grace will come some five billion years from now, when our expanding red giant sun engulfs and incinerates poor little Earth. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for coup de grâce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coup de grâce
  1. determinant
  2. crusher
  3. clincher
  4. topper
Noun
  • One of us is a social epidemiologist who studies the social and structural determinants of health, and the other is a prevention scientist who studies risk and protective factors among young people.
    — Jonathan Wright, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The ability of companies to attract ambitious, highly skilled individuals is emerging as a key determinant of economic success.
    — Armand Arton, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of determinant
Noun
  • Hundreds of Denver comics also performed there, with nationally touring acts such as Ben Roy and Andrew Orvedahl (Cayton-Holland’s Grawlix partners) and crushers such as Josh Blue, Janae Burris, Troy Walker, and Christie Buchele.
    — John Wenzel, Denver Post, 16 July 2026
  • Adventure bikes have ballooned into 600-pound continent crushers.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
Definition of crusher
Noun
  • The highlights included scoring the overtime winner in HK Nitra’s Game 7 championship clincher and leading Slovakia’s World Juniors team in both goals (five) and points (eight).
    — Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Adding to Rezaeian’s agony, right before the final whistle another potential clincher, a header from Khalilzadeh, hit the crossbar.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 28 June 2026
Definition of clincher
Noun
  • That's well more than the 300-to-400-lb (136-to-180-kg) range common for toppers, but the Stargate's weight is in line with some of the lightest pickup campers on the market.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Northwest Naturals Frozen Chicken Recipe (cat food and protein topper for dogs), 2 lbs.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of topper

Browse Nearby Words

coup d'oeil
coup de grâce
coup de main
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Cite this Entry

“Coup de grâce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coup%20de%20gr%C3%A2ce. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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