: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics and especially the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group : coup d'état
In its first few hours, the coup seemed a terrifying confirmation of the power of the military, the police and, especially, the KGB. David Remnick
By nightfall, the troops had freed the captured President and ended the six-day-old coup, a military spokesman said. Marlise Simons
2
: a brilliant, sudden, and usually highly successful stroke or act
It's an impressive coup for the NCAA and its corporate sponsors to snag an artist with Springsteen's cachet for this event. Chris Strauss
From time to time, the conspiracy groupies pull off a huge disinformation coup. Alex Kozinski
Foreseeing a publicity coup, chairman Roger Smith was determined to exhibit an electric car at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 1990. Mark Fischetti
Noun It was a major coup when they got the Vice President to appear on their show for an interview. winning that big contract was a real coup
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This multi-home compound in Upstate New York that attracts short-term renters all year thanks to a hops farm, chicken coup, outdoor wellness spa, wood shop, office space, and creative studio specializing in video and photography on the property. Veronica Toney, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Aug. 2022 Pelosi’s trip is the highest-level visit by a US official in 25 years, and a diplomatic coup, if mostly a symbolic one, for Taiwan. Paul Mozur, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2022 Swanson lives in Lodi, N.J., about a 30-minute drive from downtown Manhattan, with his wife, Maria, and their 17 hawks and falcons, a coup of pigeons, two dachshunds and Ozzy, the Eurasian eagle-owl.New York Times, 23 June 2022 Scores of children have been killed in Myanmar since last year’s coup, not just in the crossfire of conflict but as deliberate targets of a military willing to inflict immense suffering, a United Nations expert said on Tuesday. Reuters, NBC News, 15 June 2022 The dark group launched a coup at the end of season 1, and season 2 was consumed by a civil war between the new fascist Raven Union and the remnants of Britain's democratic government. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 30 Aug. 2022 Technicalities aside: Graphene was a miracle material, a carbonaceous coup.WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 Prayut's rule as a military coup leader turned prime minister has been marred with growing authoritarianism and widening inequality. Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 25 Aug. 2022 Nothing comes close to this half-trillion-dollar or more executive coup. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022
Verb
This year's pace car is the second consecutive Chevy's Corvette Stingray, with last year's 2020 Chevy Corvette Stingray coup the choice. Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 11 May 2021 See More