coup attempt
Botched power grab
A coup attempt is an effort to seize control of a government through sudden, often violent means, typically by military forces or political insiders.
Unlike a successful coup, which results in an actual transfer of power, an attempt implies the effort was thwarted or failed.
The coup attempt was put down within hours by forces loyal to the president.
The term appears frequently in news coverage of political instability, where governments may label opposition actions as coup attempts to justify crackdowns.
- plottersThose devising secret plans
- palace intrigueScheming within ruling circles
- military interventionUse of troops abroad
- military juntaRuling council of officers
- power vacuumAbsence of governing authority
defectors · insurrection · rebellion · constitutional crisis · insurgents · dissidents · propaganda · assassination · loyalists · repression · conspirators · seize power · power grab · authoritarianism · civil war · sabotage · exile · public protests
- mutinymutiny, mutineer, mutinous, naval mutiny, revolt
- Cold War EndBerlin Wall fall, Soviet collapse, German reunification, Gorbachev, perestroika
- coupsoverthrow, ousting, dethronement, putsch, dethroning
- International CrisesCuban Missile Crisis, Iran hostage crisis, hostage crisis, Suez Crisis, Bay of Pigs
- political crimestreason, sedition, insurrection, political corruption, overthrow
- political intrigueintrigue, conspiracy, treason, plot, collusion
coup attemptinauguration
Formal beginning ceremony
abdication · democratic process · electoral mandate · constitutional amendment · parliamentary procedure
coup attemptpolitical stability
Enduring, predictable state authority
rule of law · civil order · constitutional order · status quo