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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Recent Examples of Synonyms for coup de main
Noun
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The British Army also provided protection from attacks by Native American tribes, giving many settlers little reason to support a rebellion.
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Twice in recent days, the United States has launched retaliatory strikes on Iran following drone attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Noun
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According to Holtz, Whittingham was charged with murder, first-degree assault, first-degree assault on an elderly person and home invasion.
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Atanas Hristev, 44, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon late last month, according to court records.
Noun
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Thursday’s raid was a part of the NYPD’s ongoing efforts to crack down on the city’s trade in bootleg merchandise, and follows five raids targeting vendors in Lower Manhattan between May 20 and June 12, cops said.
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Barely six months ago, US special forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from Caracas in a daring and deadly raid.
Noun
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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s position on Ukraine remains unchanged, insisting that Russian troops are continuing their front-line offensive.
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The move reflects the success of elite drone formations such as Rubicon, which helped blunt Ukraine's offensive into Russia's Kursk region by using drones to disrupt frontline logistics.
Noun
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Battiloro was arrested following an extensive investigation and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and multiple traffic offenses, according to prosecutors.
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Cape Verde's been leading the offense, with several opportunities dancing around the Saudi net, but without precision.
Noun
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Formula 1 via Getty Images Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z has been receiving an onslaught of backlash due to a partnership with Target for an exclusive vinyl album to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his classic debut album Reasonable Doubt.
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The World Cup has brought an onslaught of international soccer fans, and consequently, taste buds.
Noun
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Kim previously hailed the development of the Choe Hyon as a major step toward expanding the operational reach and preemptive strike capabilities of North Korea's military.
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After Abbosbek Fayzullaev won the ball back for Uzbekistan near the top of the box, Azizjon Ganiev unleashed an incredible strike that briefly made this a 2-1 game.
Noun
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Ukraine has every right to attack Russia’s military infrastructure that sustains its aggression.
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Issues could include insomnia, aggression, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to psychotropic medication and exacerbation of existing mental illness -- like anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.
Cite this Entry
“Coup de main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coup%20de%20main. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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