supplant

verb

sup·​plant sə-ˈplant How to pronounce supplant (audio)
supplanted; supplanting; supplants

transitive verb

1
: to supersede (another) especially by force or treachery
2
a(1)
obsolete : uproot
(2)
: to eradicate and supply a substitute for
efforts to supplant the vernacular
b
: to take the place of and serve as a substitute for especially by reason of superior excellence or power
supplantation noun
supplanter noun
Choose the Right Synonym for supplant

replace, displace, supplant, supersede mean to put out of a usual or proper place or into the place of another.

replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate.

replaced the broken window

displace implies an ousting or dislodging.

war had displaced thousands

supplant implies either a dispossessing or usurping of another's place, possessions, or privileges or an uprooting of something and its replacement with something else.

was abruptly supplanted in her affections by another

supersede implies replacing a person or thing that has become superannuated, obsolete, or otherwise inferior.

the new edition supersedes all previous ones

Examples of supplant in a Sentence

old traditions that were fading away and being supplanted by modern ways
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
One thing is certain: Ritter will not supplant Tovar at short. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 18 June 2025 All due respect to the adorable Epic Yarn, the inventive Canvas Curse, and the facile Air Ride, but nothing after 1996 has supplanted the highs of Kirby Super Star. Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025 The new implementation will supplant SP 800-218, the government's existing SSDF reference implementation, although the Trump EO calls for the new guidelines to be informed by it. ArsTechnica, 17 June 2025 These bespoke groupings would not supplant the U.N. and other international bodies. Charles A. Kupchan, Time, 14 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for supplant

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French supplanter, from Latin supplantare to trip up, cause to stumble, from sub- + planta sole of the foot — more at place

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of supplant was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Supplant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supplant. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

supplant

verb
sup·​plant sə-ˈplant How to pronounce supplant (audio)
1
: to take the place of (another) especially by force or treachery
2
a
: to root out and supply a substitute for
b
: to gain the place of and serve as a substitute for especially by reason of superior excellence or power
supplantation noun
supplanter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on supplant

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