as in fell
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily
the tower of blocks toppled even though I bumped into it ever so slightly
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Recent Examples of toppled
The country plunged into chaos after a 2011 uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
—
ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Three people were killed, including a 10-month-old girl, after high winds toppled a tree in Germany during an Easter egg hunt on Sunday morning, according to authorities.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Three people, including a 10-month-old girl, were killed Sunday when high winds toppled a tree in northern Germany during an Easter egg hunt, police said.
—CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
The 45th president’s victory in the crowded 2016 primary effectively toppled the existing Republican Establishment, injecting the party with a combination of populism and distrust that was especially hostile to the way things were done before.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
In Bangladesh, which saw its government toppled by mass protests in 2024, 53% of the population is under 30.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Like any sport, chess and Go are worthwhile because of human struggles and storylines, champions made and toppled, the very fact that people are doomed to be imperfect but always striving to become just a bit better.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2026
When this writer foolishly forgot her iPods inside the Palais, the 15-minute walk to fetch them — during which I was almost toppled over by wind and accosted by sleet — was enough to make her hole up in her hotel room for the rest of the day.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
Oli early Saturday over the deaths of dozens of people during violent protests in September that toppled the government and resulted in new elections.
—Binaj Gurubacharya, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Three people were killed, including a 10-month-old girl, after high winds toppled a tree in Germany during an Easter egg hunt on Sunday morning, according to authorities.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Three people, including a 10-month-old girl, were killed Sunday when high winds toppled a tree in northern Germany during an Easter egg hunt, police said.
—CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
The 45th president’s victory in the crowded 2016 primary effectively toppled the existing Republican Establishment, injecting the party with a combination of populism and distrust that was especially hostile to the way things were done before.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
In Bangladesh, which saw its government toppled by mass protests in 2024, 53% of the population is under 30.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Like any sport, chess and Go are worthwhile because of human struggles and storylines, champions made and toppled, the very fact that people are doomed to be imperfect but always striving to become just a bit better.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2026
When this writer foolishly forgot her iPods inside the Palais, the 15-minute walk to fetch them — during which I was almost toppled over by wind and accosted by sleet — was enough to make her hole up in her hotel room for the rest of the day.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
Oli early Saturday over the deaths of dozens of people during violent protests in September that toppled the government and resulted in new elections.
—Binaj Gurubacharya, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toppled
Verb
-
Jeff Shell, now felled from his presidency of Paramount, is living proof.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Floorboards were milled from walnut trees felled at a construction site in North Carolina.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An Easter Sunday celebration at a Long Beach, California park took a disturbing turn when a person searching for hidden eggs stumbled upon a human skull partially buried in dense brush.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In trading Angel Reese yesterday, this franchise stumbled upon a crossroad.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In one video, a horse tripped on a curb and fell over, toppling its rider before running off.—
Nick Sullivan
April 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Wembanyama had tripped over his shoelace, the referees determined.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps in his quiet time, Leo has slipped on the size 52 jersey, just for fun.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Contracts for homes above $10 million rose sharply in the first quarter, even as overall deal volume slipped.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In closing arguments Thursday, prosecutors led by Assistant State Attorney Rich Buxman of the Fifth Judicial Circuit relied on testimony by Green’s neighbors, who claimed Hunter and Green tumbled down the stairs during the argument.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In a hopeful sign for the downtown struggling office market, the owner of an iconic office tower that tumbled into foreclosure has reached a settlement with its lender to regain control of the 23-story building, in a purchase that will include a new ownership arrangement with a longtime partner.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toppled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toppled. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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