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
But after the monarchy was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution and Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini became the country’s supreme leader, many of TMoCA’s works were locked away as clerics deemed them inappropriate, citing nudity and other sensitive themes. —Amin Khodadadi, NBC News, 16 Mar. 2025 Syrian President Bashar Assad was also overthrown in December, further weakening Iran's grip on the wider region. —Graham Underwood, arkansasonline.com, 12 Mar. 2025 Thousands of demonstrators clad in canary-yellow soccer jerseys thronged Copacabana Beach this month in support of a leader accused of conspiring to overthrow Brazil’s young democracy. —Constance Malleret, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2025 Some of the other documents also detailed operations to potentially overthrow Castro. —David Brennan, ABC News, 19 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
  • The book was a tale of heroic resistance, but stretched across so many years of television, the bursts of rebellion were overwhelmed by long periods of suffering.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
  • In my opinion, today's consumers are overwhelmed by noise—too many offers, messages and distractions.
    — Ali Payani, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of overwhelm
Noun
  • Todd takes an emotional beating throughout the album.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The demo is full of a lot of welcome, lighthearted touches, like the ability to surf on giant slabs of rock or shake the controller for a very ape-like beating of Donkey Kong's chest.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 3 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
  • The then-vice president’s loss has propelled Beshear to at least a mid-level position in 2028 chatter.
    — David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
  • An 11-3 Opening Day loss in Baltimore didn’t define the Angels last year.
    — Sam Blum, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of loss
Verb
  • All our ballads were the opposite, light verses and heavy chorus — it was totally inverted.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
  • If the orchid is difficult to get out of its pot, work a dull knife down and around the inside of the pot, then invert it and tap the pot on a work surface to remove it.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 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 15 Apr. 2025.

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