COUP DE MAIN Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

coup de main

noun

ˌkü-də-ˈmaⁿ

Definition of coup de main

as in attack

the act or action of setting upon with force or violence the Continental Army's attack on the British-Hessian encampment at Trenton, New Jersey, ranks as one of the most brilliant coups de main of the war

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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 main Ryan Reynolds walked arm in arm with Blake Lively, and there were polite air-kisses and an appearance by Martha Stewart—but like the film’s coup de main, the night was filled with surprises. — Lauren Sanchez, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coup de main

Noun

Ukraine's State Emergency Service said Tuesday that Russian strikes on Kyiv had killed one person and wounded seven other people since the start of the day, with attacks carried out on the capital's gas stations.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
The number of products deployed or dollars spent says little about an organization’s ability to withstand an attack.

— Shane Buckley, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

Deputies arrested Asher on suspicion of assault with a firearm and battery causing great bodily harm and booked him into Siskiyou County Jail.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Independent Russian media regularly report about returning veterans involved in assaults, drunken brawls and even killings.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

Last year, immigration raids and tariffs hung over the celebration causing the event and mas bands to make adjustments.

— Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
Rafael Lopez, a Downey resident who has lived next door to the Kim family for years, said the FBI raid last summer caught neighbors by surprise when they were jolted awake by megaphones.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of raid

Noun

Last week, Houthi rebels in Yemen launched a lightning offensive against Yemeni government forces, seizing control of the country’s entire Red Sea coast, including the towns and islands around the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 20 Sep. 2026
Last week, in a shock offensive, the Yemeni rebel group known as the Houthis seized territory near the Red Sea’s strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

— Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of offensive

Noun

Campbell is now charged with simple assault and harassment, which are misdemeanor and summary offenses.

— Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
The offense works best when running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum are gaining yardage in chunks, and McVay is calling plays that create space for receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams to make routine and sometimes spectacular catches.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of offense

Noun

Meanwhile, Houthi rebels in Yemen, also supported by Tehran, have increased their onslaught against southern targets, seizing strategic islands in the Bab el-Mandeb waterway.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026
The onslaught effectively forced the container shipping industry to avoid the Suez Canal altogether, with ocean carriers instead opting to sail a longer route around southern Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of onslaught

Noun

The Houthis responded with missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia, including one that targeted Riyadh on Saturday before being intercepted.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
Daniel Jones excelled in getting off quick strikes before blitzes got home, and the Chiefs’ coverage in those throws was loose.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of strike

Noun

That was the most glaring example of the gulf between the two teams in terms of duels, aggression and general competitiveness.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
The savage purge since June of high-momentum stocks – dominated by AI hardware and related industrials – has sapped the bullish aggression of traders, helping to reset tactical sentiment toward a more neutral level.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of aggression

Browse Nearby Words

coup de grâce

coup de main

coupe

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Style

“Coup de main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coup%20de%20main. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of coup de main

noun

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