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 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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And now Google warns that Chrome is under attack, issuing an emergency update and a recommendation to upgrade all desktop browsers immediately.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Ukrainian defense forces took down the 230-foot (70 meters) antenna dish to prevent Russian forces from using it to guide attacks on its territory.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Though the United States decided against deportation, images of the workers being chained and handcuffed during the raid caused widespread alarm in South Korea.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
15 Sep. 2025
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Following the indictment, the FBI on Wednesday conducted a raid near Augusta, Georgia, arresting leaders after years of allegations that the church operated like a cult and preyed on military communities nationwide.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, Ukraine has continued its onslaught of Russian oil and gas facilities, further damaging an economy that is beginning to show cracks.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Making matters worse, there's a zombie apocalypse happening that sends the entire metropolis into lockdown mode, leaving everyone at the venue to hunker down inside or face the onslaught of flesh-eating monsters.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Walz and Democratic-Farmer-Labor legislators are calling for new policies including a state ban on semiautomatic assault-style weapons like the AR-15, which was used in the Annunciation shooting.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
20 Sep. 2025
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At its core is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force centered around the amphibious assault vessel USS Iwo Jima and two San Antonio-class transport ships.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Several reports and analyses in the immediate aftermath of Israel’s September 9 airstrike on Doha observed how the Israeli strike had led the Arab Gulf states to ask fundamental questions about their existing security arrangements with the United States.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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And just quickly on Qatar, the Israelis did a strike in Qatar, our ally.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Russia's offensive this summer had advanced at one of the fastest rates since late 2024 but, overall since November 2022, Moscow has gained less than 1 percent of additional Ukrainian territory.—
Brendan Cole
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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The Israeli military began a ground offensive in Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Today's attempt will be the first since then.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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Their latest attempt, through a kangaroo immigration court, exposes their true colors once again.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At least 25 people were arrested in offenses including violent disorder, assaults and criminal damage, and the investigation continues, police said.—
BRIAN MELLEY,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
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So what does this offense look like when Xavier Worthy comes back and Rashee Rice comes off suspension?—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Coup de main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coup%20de%20main. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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