tour de force

noun

plural tours de force ˌtu̇r-də-ˈfȯrs How to pronounce tour de force (audio)
: a feat or display of strength, skill, or ingenuity
the movie is a comic tour de force

Examples of tour de force in a Sentence

The book is a tour de force. Her performance in the play was a real tour de force.
Recent Examples on the Web Even though the suspense is there, this incredibly sophisticated tour de force focuses mostly on observing its characters from a distance, as well as the pivotal events that bring change and trauma to their lives. Ernesto Lechner, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024 The fact that Karol G is a woman and would be the first woman to snag this win, is a bonus, but should not for one second take away from the fact that this set is a tour de force. Leila Cobo, Billboard, 2 Feb. 2024 The bottom line is that the Rivian R1S is an impressive technical tour de force that delivers genuine long-range driving on a single charge and the ability to carry the whole family. Dan Carney, Popular Science, 1 Feb. 2024 The filmmaking tour de force is full of big, important ideas and deserves to be seen. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024 At the 2024 Golden Globes, the nominees for best actress in a limited series, anthology series or a motion picture made for television delivered a slew of tour de force performances. Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 8 Jan. 2024 Sandra Reaves-Phillips, the actress and singer who appeared in the films ’Round Midnight and Lean on Me and portrayed six legendary divas in a one-woman, tour de force stage show, has died. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Dec. 2023 Lamar Smith’s tour de force brings home Miami’s most recent playoff win Coach Dave Wannstedt’s Dolphins were looking for a third straight year with a playoff win on Dec. 30, 2000. Steve Svekis, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2024 Buy on Amazon Mama Dip's Kitchen The late Mildred Council, affectionately known as Mama Dip, was the tour de force behind the iconic Mama Dip’s Kitchen near the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tour de force.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tour de force was in 1802

Dictionary Entries Near tour de force

Cite this Entry

“Tour de force.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tour%20de%20force. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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