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.
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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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For the most part, Israel’s response to Hamas’s devastating October 7 attack was confined to the Gaza Strip.Carrie A. Lee, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2024
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Episodes often feature logistically complex armed attacks, guided from afar by the top brass, played by the likes of Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly, Jennifer Ehle, and Bruce McGill.Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Adding to her woes was an FBI raid on her home this past summer.Barnini Chakraborty, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Nov. 2024
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Minutes later, an Iskander ballistic missile streaked down—and exploded directly over the shelter, likely destroying the MiG. The raid was ominously reminiscent of the attacks this summer.David Axe, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But in this year’s hyperpolarized backdrop fueled by record advertising spending and media onslaughts from the Kamala Harris and Donald Trump campaigns alike, U.S. retirement savers are left in a cloud of unease and uncertainty.Brian Menickella, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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The onslaught by the Israel Defense Forces shows no sign of slowing, even months after the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) warning of plausible risk of genocide made headline news.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
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 strikes were accompanied by low-altitude flights of hostile drones over the area, NNA said.Abeer Salman, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024
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Russia has launched a number of deadly strikes on Ukraine this week, including an hourslong nationwide assault Sunday that killed at least nine people.Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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As Russia continues its offensive, Ukraine is also reckoning with a shifting political landscape after its biggest backer elected a new president.Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024
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Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 43,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its toll but says over half of those killed were women and children.Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Louisville committed a personal foul penalty on a 1-yard reception by Mosley to set up a 57-yard field goal attempt with one second left.Harold Gutmann, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
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For two decades, the organization has raged against government and corporate attempts to amass information on gun buyers.Corey G. Johnson, ProPublica, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Quarterback Jalen Hurts leads an offense that also features star running back Saquon Barkley and receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
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Police arrested a student at Cedar Park Middle School on Friday morning for an offense related to a school threat, officials said.Claire Osborn, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near coup de main
Cite this Entry
“Coup de main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coup%20de%20main. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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