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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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

This appears to be one of Kyiv's deepest attacks on Russian territory since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

— Justina Lee, CNBC, 8 July 2026
Iranian state television said the tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings but did not directly claim the assault.

— Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

Indeed, the administration’s assault on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act intensifies the damage.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Williams had an extraditable warrant out of Suffolk County, New York, on multiple charges including burglary, strangulation and assault.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of assault

Noun

Five of the men face up to three years in prison and/or fines of up to $10,000, prosecutors said, while Castorena faces up to six years in prison and/or fines of up to $10,000 due to a prior strike offense.

— Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Under the law, moral offenses — including adultery and same-sex relations — can carry penalties of up to 100 lashes.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026

Definition of offense

Noun

In Texas, ranchers are bracing for an onslaught of screwworms, the flesh-eating maggots of blowflies.

— Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Torres lamented that the nation’s landmark semiquincentennial comes amid a fever pitch of anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States, marked by a rise in xenophobia and an onslaught of attempts to restrict newcomers here and abroad.

— Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026

Definition of onslaught

Noun

Hello to a new era The relationship was characterized by passive aggression, cryptic tweets and small slights that added up to a big, if not inevitable, breakup.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Ukraine and its neighbors are increasingly skeptical that the US will come to their aid in the face of Russian aggression, and are taking precautions accordingly.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 6 July 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of coup de main

noun

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