overthrow 1 of 2

noun

Definition of overthrownext
as in defeat
failure to win a contest the surprising overthrow of the world's top-ranked chess player

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

overthrow

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to topple

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to overwhelm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb overthrow differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of overthrow are conquer, defeat, overcome, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

When might conquer be a better fit than overthrow?

While in some cases nearly identical to overthrow, conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

How are the words defeat and vanquish related as synonyms of overthrow?

Defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

Where would overcome be a reasonable alternative to overthrow?

The meanings of overcome and overthrow largely overlap; however, overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

When is it sensible to use reduce instead of overthrow?

Although the words reduce and overthrow have much in common, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

When can subdue be used instead of overthrow?

The synonyms subdue and overthrow are sometimes interchangeable, but subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

When is vanquish a more appropriate choice than overthrow?

The words vanquish and overthrow are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

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 overthrow
Verb
Five others died and 37 people in total were sentenced to death for their roles in the attempt to overthrow the government. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2025 Iranian officials have long warned that a similar deal would be intended to weaken Iran and eventually overthrow its regime. —Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025 The Southeast Asian country is reeling from a raging civil war between a military junta that seized power in 2021, and pro-democracy fighters and ethnic rebel groups battling to overthrow it. —Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025 Alaa al-Saadi, like many Syrian men of his generation, once fought to overthrow longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad. —Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for overthrow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overthrow
  1. defeat
  2. topple
  3. overwhelm
  4. beating
  5. overturn
  6. overrun
  7. loss
  8. invert
Noun
  • The 30-year-old, who has played 29 times for Bournemouth in the Premier League this season, was withdrawn on 58 minutes during his side’s 2-1 defeat at Ipswich Town on April 2.
    — Leon Imber, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • According to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, the Gators’ stunning 65-63 defeat of Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars averaged 18.1 million viewers, making the men’s NCAA championship game the most-watched since 2019, when Virginia’s win over Texas Tech drew 19.6 million viewers.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of defeat
Verb
  • The number of sites, and whether they are secured, has been a mystery since rebels toppled Mr. al-Assad last year.
    — Megha Rajagopalan, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Rafah residents said most of the local population had followed Israel's order to leave, as Israeli strikes toppled buildings there.
    — Nidal al-Mughrabi and Mahmoud Issa, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of topple
Verb
  • Local permitting departments, overwhelmed by the demand, are struggling to keep up—delaying the return of many residents.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Implementing spaced repetition techniques—revisiting challenging concepts at strategic intervals—further enhances retention without overwhelming your cognitive resources.
    — Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of overwhelm
Noun
  • Correa is accused of participating in beatings, electrocutions and other forms of abuses while allegedly acting as part of a death squad operating under former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Stocks have taken a severe beating, with many investors selling positions after President Donald Trump unveiled his latest tariff policies late Wednesday.
    — Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of beating
Verb
  • He was released after a court overturned his 40-year sentence for the kidnapping and killing of Camarena.
    — Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The decision overturned a lower court ruling that had required their reinstatement, supporting Trump's efforts to downsize the federal workforce.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of overturn
Verb
  • After watching the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams overrun the Vikings interior blockers in the final two games of the season, this was their biggest need.
    — Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • After his arrest in January, some of Mr. Yoon’s supporters overran a local court, breaking windows and threatening the judge hearing his case.
    — Andrés R. Martínez, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of overrun
Noun
  • For some, their losses hurt deeply, especially so soon after disaster.
    — Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Ware recorded seven points and three rebounds in 15 minutes off the Heat’s bench in Friday’s loss.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of loss
Verb
  • Learning in progress inverts that dynamic by delivering smaller nuggets of more relevant, personalized learning to employees whenever it’s needed and as often as required.
    — John Kannapell, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The cause of the crash is under investigation, but the helicopter reportedly hit the water inverted.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of invert

Browse Nearby Words

overthrew
overthrow
overthrowing
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Cite this Entry

“Overthrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overthrow. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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