overthrow 1 of 2

overthrow

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verb

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
Noun
Does that give them the right to launch military activity and overthrow the regime in Jordan? Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025 This lack of understanding was rooted in paranoia and suspicion after he was overthrown during his first military rule, according to Rewane. Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 13 July 2025 This would be to overthrow in fact what was established in theory; and would seem, at first view, an absurdity too gross to be insisted on. Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 29 July 2025 Later in practice, rookie first-round pick Malaki Starks intercepted a Jackson overthrow right outside the end zone. Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for overthrow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overthrow
Noun
  • That’s twice as many defeats as victories in games decided by a single run.
    Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • That game also ended up being a soul-crushing loss for the reeling Bombers, as other newbies Camilo Doval, David Bednar and José Caballero also played pivotal parts in the defeat.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In this latest wave, a new kind of influencer wants to wage race wars, topple modern democracies, share assassination techniques, and replace society with all-white ethno-states.
    Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The move came just as Israel’s parliament broke for summer recess, meaning that Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners couldn’t take out their ire by threatening to topple the government.
    Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Don’t be afraid to refuse additional tasks that could overwhelm you.
    Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Advertisement Headlights may also cause bleaching, where the blast of light overwhelms the retina’s neurons.
    Matt Fuchs, Time, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Good morning, The Padres last night took their worst beating at Petco Park since before last year’s All-Star break.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025
  • The update comes the same day all six individuals arrested in connection with the viral beating in downtown Cincinnati have been indicted by a grand jury and are facing additional charges.
    Julia Bonavita , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • To change that, Congress would need to overturn home rule.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Tables were overturned, wine bottles were shattered and decorations were destroyed.
    Erin Clack, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • On March 11, 1968, Vietnamese commandos overran the site in Laos with grenades and mortars, and the American men sought safety on a narrow ledge atop the mountain.
    Lauren Brensel, Sun Sentinel, 25 July 2025
  • In nearly identical claims, the attorneys alleged the city failed to maintain a safe runway safety area and runway protection zone at Falcon Field Airport and failed to install a form of barrier to prevent an aircraft from overrunning the runway and entering the public roadway.
    Maritza Dominguez, AZCentral.com, 16 July 2025
Noun
  • Lawyers with the state said the habitat loss was a small part of the more than 3.1 million acres over which panthers range in Florida.
    Greg Allen, NPR, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The company is waiting for final results from a similar study of weight loss in people with diabetes; early results released in April indicate that the drug helped people with diabetes lower their blood sugar.
    Alice Park, Time, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • What and where: Dueling Dragons/Dragon Challenge, Islands of Adventure • When: May 1999-September 2017 • What it was known for: Dueling Dragons was a two-rail, inverted, racing coaster in the park’s Lost Continent section, known for (apparent) close calls between vehicles.
    Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The two-stage design is both adjustable and foldable, enabling it to be converted for overhead or inverted configurations to take tabletop shots or low-angle views without having to take out the center column.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Overthrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overthrow. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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