supplant

verb

sup·​plant sə-ˈplant 

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

(ˌ)sə-ˌplan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

supplanter

sə-ˈplan-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• replace
• supersede

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

Ned supplants the interim editor of the failing newspaper, Esmeralda (Sabrina Impacciatore), a Disney Princess version of Michael Scott (Steve Carell). —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025

But as much as the ratings monopoly has taken its share of knocks over the decades, it has never been supplanted as the anchor of the $70 billion-plus TV ad business. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2025

After all, Sanders supplanted Sean Lewis as offensive play-caller with Pencil Pat midway through 2023’s losing streak. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Aug. 2025

O’Neill, Kennedy’s deputy at the Department of Health and Human Services, will supplant Susan Monarez, a longtime government scientist who had been the CDC director for less than a month. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025

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

Rhymes for supplant

• decant
• descant
• eggplant
• enchant
• explant
• implant
• preplant
• recant
• replant
• secant
• transplant
• ant

Kids Definition

supplant

verb

sup·​plant sə-ˈplant 

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

(ˌ)sə-ˌplan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

supplanter

sə-ˈplant-ər 

noun