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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From 21 March on, the gang launched attacks against several areas in the communes of Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite and Marchand Dessalines.—
Jacqueline Charles
July 11,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
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In one attack in late January, Russian drones hit an apartment complex in an overnight attack, killing nine people and injuring 13.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
11 July 2025
Noun
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The details of a raid can be useful for the non-citzen’s legal case.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
19 July 2025
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The early morning police raid in a home near the Azalea Park neighborhood also turned up two handguns, ammunition, narcotics and more than $1,000 in cash.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 July 2025
Noun
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An onslaught of aerial/high-rise scenes that even Pink would find excessive?—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
19 July 2025
-
Topline More than half of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of the federal government’s documents detailing its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, according to a new poll that comes as Trump is facing an onslaught of backlash from his base over the issue.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
Noun
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Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.—
Jacky Wong,
WSJ,
6 Feb. 2023
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Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
31 Jan. 2023
Noun
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The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
14 July 2025
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What begins as a quiet rebellion erupts into a viral citywide strike, culminating in a daring heist.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
14 July 2025
Noun
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Israel's military offensive has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many militants are among the dead.—
WAFAA SHURAFA,
Arkansas Online,
20 July 2025
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An Israeli military offensive has killed over 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million people and caused widespread destruction.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Chicago Tribune,
19 July 2025
Noun
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James buried his first attempt over Flagg, and then hit a 3-pointer after the 6-foot-8 Flagg missed his second attempt to give the Lakers a 5-0 lead.—
Staff,
Oc Register,
11 July 2025
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Mohn also went to a National Guard training camp after beheading his father in an attempt to mobilize troops against the federal government, the Bucks County's district attorney said.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Despite a decade of scandal — from Maria Sharapova to Simona Halep — tennis continues to treat doping as a serious offense with minor consequences, and the inconsistent, sometimes clumsy approach to rendering judgment only fuels skepticism.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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Currently, Russia is making modest gains against Ukraine and may soon seek to leverage those advances to launch additional offenses in the eastern reach of the country, according to a recent assessment from the Institute of the Study of War.—
Shannon K. Kingston,
ABC News,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coup de main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coup%20de%20main. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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