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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
Lauren Sanchez, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coup de main
Noun
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There are also other artists, like Patricia Frischer, who has been doing a series of images about the #MeToo movement and women’s rights, which are also under attack at the moment.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
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Cooper said that no US ships have come under attack since the operation began, and as of Friday there had been 19 vessels that had attempted to violate the blockade but heeded US warnings and returned back to port without incident.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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He was taken into custody and transported to Norwalk police headquarters, where he was charged with two counts of criminal attempt at assault on a police officer, two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and first-degree threatening.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
21 Apr. 2026
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They were originally used mostly to evacuate casualties and resupply troops, but increasingly also to conduct combat assault missions.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Continue reading … MISSING MANNERS — Viral airport lounge scenes spark outrage as travelers raid buffets and kids go wild.—
,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday arrested a plaintiff involved in a class action lawsuit challenging raids in Los Angeles, prompting concerns from lawyers of retaliation and calls for his release.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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These threats are something Shojaei and her family know all too well — her brother Masoud, who is retired from playing, has had his assets frozen by the Iranian regime over recent weeks — while their neighbourhood was bombed by the US-Israeli offensive.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
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More than 2,100 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to Lebanon's health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Giants rediscovered their offense Friday, battering one of their former pitchers and winning 10-5 against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
18 Apr. 2026
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The move turned out to be instant offense in the bottom of the frame for McMahon, who took Royals reliever Alex Lange deep on a changeup near the center of the zone.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That onslaught of scoring helped the Hornets control the game heading into the fourth quarter with fans cheering his name following a late reprieve from the action.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Apr. 2026
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Sheinbaum’s response to the onslaught was a lesson in diplomacy.—
Ioan Grillo,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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During their first meeting, at Mar-a-Lago, in 2017, Xi famously learned about American strikes on Syria.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
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The next pitch had to be a strike.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Another day, as Mom loads the children into the car, Jeremy tosses a basketball against the house, again and again, his passive aggression registering through the ball’s unyielding thuds and his own frozen gaze.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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Sources have told The Star that KU’s coaching staff believed in his potential but wanted to see more physicality and aggression from him.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coup de main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coup%20de%20main. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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