countercoup

noun

coun·​ter·​coup ˌkau̇n-tər-ˈkü How to pronounce countercoup (audio)
variants or counter-coup
plural countercoups or counter-coups
: a coup d'état to overthrow or alter a government that was established by an earlier coup d'état
… in 1963, the Baathists had seized power in a coup only to lose it nine months later in a countercoupJason Zengerle

Examples of countercoup in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Coups and countercoups, violence and assassinations, human rights abuses—all formed part of regular political life. Steven Radelet, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2015 When Hamad finally took power from his father in a peaceful coup in 1995, Saudi Arabia allegedly backed a countercoup to restore Khalifa. David B. Roberts, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2017 The Gulf’s immediate future is likely to be marked by many more such coup and countercoup attempts. Christopher Davidson, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2013 The king and his family then relocated to northern Greece, seeking to lead a countercoup. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2023 Security forces thwarted the countercoup against coup leader Col. Assimi Goïta, according to a government statement. Washington Post, 17 May 2022 Security forces thwarted the countercoup against two-time coup leader Col. Assimi Goita, according to a government statement. Baba Ahmed, ajc, 17 May 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of countercoup was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near countercoup

Cite this Entry

“Countercoup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/countercoup. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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