Synonyms of supersede

supersede

verb

ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd 

as in to replace

to take the place of

that edition of the dictionary that you have has been superseded by a more recent one

Synonyms & Similar Words

• replace
• supplant
• substitute
• relieve
• displace
• usurp
• displant
• preempt
• cut out

Synonym Chooser

How is the word supersede distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of supersede are displace, replace, and supplant. While all these words mean "to put out of a usual or proper place or into the place of another," supersede implies replacing a person or thing that has become superannuated, obsolete, or otherwise inferior.

the new edition supersedes all previous ones

When is it sensible to use displace instead of supersede?

The synonyms displace and supersede are sometimes interchangeable, but displace implies an ousting or dislodging.

war had displaced thousands

When can replace be used instead of supersede?

While the synonyms replace and supersede are close in meaning, replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate.

replaced the broken window

Where would supplant be a reasonable alternative to supersede?

The meanings of supplant and supersede largely overlap; however, 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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of supersede

Who paid for the fence does matter—but that should never supersede your good manners. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025

The Articles of Confederation underpinned the first governing system set up for the new United States but was only in effect for less than a decade before the Constitution superseded it. —Jared Gans, The Hill, 19 Sep. 2025

Many classical software development methodologies have been partially superseded by the arrival of DevOps and (even more recently) platform engineering, but these task systems go a long way to describing workflow structures in software teams. —Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

The ordinance adopted Tuesday will supersede previous sanctuary city resolutions if approved on second reading during a future council meeting. —Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025

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