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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Thao’s romantic partner, Andre Jones, has also been named in federal subpoenas issued after the raids.Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
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Another video claimed Vice President Harris and her husband were paid $500,000 for tipping off P. Diddy about a federal raid of his home, according to NewsGuard.Sam Sabin, Axios, 5 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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Forced back into combat, Billie Jean sets traps and executes precise strikes to outwit the attackers.Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
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The strike was also reflected in Friday's U.S. jobs report, which showed weaker-than-expected job growth.Axios, Axios, 5 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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Even more damning for the offense: The defense is still very good.Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
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On the Spartans’ defensive side, defensive lineman Soane Toia said the emphasis in planning for the Beaver’s offense is stopping the run.Christian Vieyra, The Mercury News, 8 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 24 Nov. 2024.
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