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
Verb
Iraqi writer/director Hasan Hadi finds a most unusual way into the story of Saddam Hussein, who served as president of his country until the U.S. invasion in 2003 overthrew his reign, which was marked by terror and tyranny. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 May 2025 The Rebels and Imperials, within their factions, disagreed over how to achieve their respective aims of overthrowing and protecting the emperor—whether to enact violence, carry out diplomacy, or do something else altogether. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 14 May 2025 This operation was only possible after Assad was overthrown. Richard Engel, NBC news, 10 May 2025 Party members have also been implicated in a plot to overthrow the state by a group that does not recognize the legitimacy of the modern German Republic. Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for overthrow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overthrow
Noun
  • Perhaps the most revealing setback came in the 3-2 Copa del Rey final defeat by Barca.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • Another way in which partisanship has brought us to this incipient defeat of the constitutional order is that the Congress has been rendered all but incompetent by faction.
    Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • The region went dark late Saturday morning, after a high-voltage line in the region toppled over, RTE said on X.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
  • The safe barrier protecting dozens of butterflies at a Missouri zoo was breached as winds toppled trees and tornadoes ripped through the state.
    Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Cruel and unaccountable events pile up, overwhelming any sense of normality.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 23 May 2025
  • The ‘Willy Wonka’ phase A sweet, sugary smell overwhelms the next pod at Goodblend. Gummies in hues of orange, red, yellow, green and blue sit on parchment paper a metal tray.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has arrested one man and is searching for another after the brutal beating of a 27-year-old off-duty officer during a robbery in the Bronx early Saturday.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
  • He was then bound by the wrists and subjected to beatings, electric shock and a hit to the head from a gun.
    Mark Crudele, ABC News, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • Foreign universities want to hire them May 25, 2025 The suit also seeks to overturn the Trump administration’s 15% cap on indirect costs related to research, which universities say are critical to carrying out their work.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
  • The suit, which hopes to overturn the law, argues that the city’s ordinance violates the First Amendment and does not apply to other forms of speech, like a political candidate asking for support or a church member proselytizing.
    Vivienne Serret, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Tigers, elephants, lions and monkeys were evacuated this week from a wildlife refuge in Culiacán, Sinaloa, a city overrun by cartel gunmen.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025
  • Mint may also overrun your zinnias if allowed to spread in the garden.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Trump won the 2016 and 2024 U.S. presidential elections in part by appealing to working class voters hurt by the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs over many years.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 27 May 2025
  • Being moved to the rear of the field also resulted in the loss of Ericsson's and Kirkwood's prize money and the championship points from their original finishes.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • There was something transgressive and liberating about an aesthetic that inverted not only good and bad taste but also conventional and unconventional morality.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
  • Top one of those pieces of buttered bread with a few slices of onion, evenly distributed over the surface, then invert the other buttered bread slice on top.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Overthrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overthrow. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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