as in successes
a successful result brought about by hard work
winning that big contract was a real coup
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Recent Examples of coups
With recent coups across West and Central Africa, the risk of instability here looms large.
—
NPR, 27 Oct. 2025
In at least three Sahel states — Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso — military juntas that came to power in coups, notably Niger and Mali, have expelled Western military forces.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Since independence in 1947, Pakistan has been led by four different military rulers and seen three coups.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
International pressure to restore civilian rule was quite strong in the 1990s and 2000s, contributing to the decline of African military coups.
—John Joseph Chin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Nowhere have these coups and revolutions promoted and funded by NED (and the CIA itself) been even remotely successful.
—Ron Paul, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
Other African leaders would have terms either too short, broken by coups or assassinations, or too long, extended by a refusal to leave office; Nkrumah’s tenure somehow managed both.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
The country has endured 14 military coups, from the 1889 coup that ended the monarchy and gave birth to the Republic of Brazil to Bolsonaro’s failed 2022 attempt to prevent Lula from taking power.
—Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2025
Of all of the casting coups that Anderson has pulled off over the years, the most impressive is still Mark Wahlberg’s turn as Dirk Diggler.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
NPR, 27 Oct. 2025
In at least three Sahel states — Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso — military juntas that came to power in coups, notably Niger and Mali, have expelled Western military forces.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Since independence in 1947, Pakistan has been led by four different military rulers and seen three coups.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
International pressure to restore civilian rule was quite strong in the 1990s and 2000s, contributing to the decline of African military coups.
—John Joseph Chin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Nowhere have these coups and revolutions promoted and funded by NED (and the CIA itself) been even remotely successful.
—Ron Paul, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
Other African leaders would have terms either too short, broken by coups or assassinations, or too long, extended by a refusal to leave office; Nkrumah’s tenure somehow managed both.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
The country has endured 14 military coups, from the 1889 coup that ended the monarchy and gave birth to the Republic of Brazil to Bolsonaro’s failed 2022 attempt to prevent Lula from taking power.
—Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2025
Of all of the casting coups that Anderson has pulled off over the years, the most impressive is still Mark Wahlberg’s turn as Dirk Diggler.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coups
Noun
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The longtime Border Patrol veteran boasts of his agents’ successes often on social media.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
28 Oct. 2025
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Outside of individual pressure, the wars between K-pop labels have bled into how superfans of the genre interact online, sparring over their favorites’ chart positions and successes.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But Cuomo himself has a long list of progressive accomplishments, including criminal justice reforms and victories for same-sex rights, which once earned him staunch support on the left.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
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Despite his results against the reigning MVP, Yesavage didn't think much of his accomplishments.—
Aaron Coloma,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And while Feltner remains humble about her achievements, her actions speak volumes about what sustainable leadership looks like in practice.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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Among all of Apple’s achievements, one of the most underrated has been making driving less miserable.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coups.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coups. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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