COUP DE MAIN Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

coup de main

noun

ˌkü-də-ˈmaⁿ

Definition of coup de main

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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Example Sentences

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.

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for coup de main

Noun

In his statement, Dan also blamed Russia for a spate of attacks in recent weeks on civilian maritime transport in the Black Sea, which has left at least three people dead and has raised fears of an escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine.

— STEPHEN McGRATH, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
The attack ads that exaggerate and lie about their opponents, without mentioning their myopic support for their dear leader whose baggage has destroyed America’s standing in the world, are astounding.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

Officers arrived to find a man with minor lacerations and detained Manfre on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, the knife.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Oren is charged with two rape cases, including one that stems from an alleged assault at Alon’s Miami Beach condo on New Year’s Eve in 2016.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

Later, a former professional boxer and a local politics kingmaker took over, but things fell apart around the time of the FBI’s raid on the property.

— Lauren Mechling, Architectural Digest, 29 Oct. 2026
Human Rights Watch urged prosecutors to investigate senior officials and police commanders, and called for forensic services to be made independent of the Civil Police, the same force participating in the raid and investigating the deaths.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of raid

Noun

Ukrainian officials say that the offensive has disrupted Russia’s assault on Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, key Ukrainian strongholds in the Donbas region.

— Anastasiia Parafeniuk, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Advertisement Leaders contemplating an October surprise or an offensive after the midterms must remember that uncomfortable truth.

— Ali Vaez, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of offensive

Noun

There was a far greater degree of comfort offense, getting back to more pick-and-roll and dribble handoffs.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Lakers scoring phenom Luka Doncic missed his first game of the young season with back tightness, leaving a giant hole in their offense with the NBA’s leading scorer (36 points per game) sitting out.

— Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of offense

Noun

Its songs are littered with black holes, disasters, nuclear bombs; there are guttural screams and onslaughts of distorted guitar.

— Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
The onslaught opened with an alley-oop slam by Wembanyama followed by a 3-pointer from Devin Vassell.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of onslaught

Noun

The Syrian government disputed the claim, saying the strikes left five dead, including women and children, as well as an elderly man.

— Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Also according to the emergency service, consecutive Russian strikes on a shopping center in Kharkiv injured four people late on Saturday, including three rescue workers.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of strike

Noun

Trump and Lee must restore deterrence, not reward Kim’s aggression, to avoid strategic and economic calamity.

— Dan Blumenthal, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
The aggression paid off as Kansas converted five fourth downs while improving to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of aggression

Browse Nearby Words

coup de grâce

coup de main

coupe

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Style

“Coup de main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coup%20de%20main. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of coup de main

noun

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