as in falling
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 toppling
The state of Maryland has reached an agreement with the operators of the cargo ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in 2024, toppling it and killing six, the state's attorney general said.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
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
This tree develops a robust, deep taproot system that can extend up to 8 feet or more, anchoring it firmly in the ground and preventing it from toppling over or being uprooted.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Apr. 2026
Those shifts are significant enough to affect weather around the world, like a series of dominoes toppling over.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
But Iran, which watched the 2003 toppling of Saddam Hussein next door, has been hardening its regime ever since.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 6 Apr. 2026
Senior attackman Max Zicchitella paced things Saturday with a hat trick, as the Longmeadow boys registered an impressive victory by toppling perennial powerhouse Duxbury on the road, 7-5.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
But after toppling the Reds on Opening Day on the strength of six shutout innings from ace lefty Garrett Crochet and three hits from 21-year-old star in the making Roman Anthony, the Red Sox have lost five straight games.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
There are also concerns that toppling a regime that's been so firmly in control of the country for nearly half a century, with no obvious new administration waiting to take over, could simply create chaos.
—Haley Ott, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
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
This tree develops a robust, deep taproot system that can extend up to 8 feet or more, anchoring it firmly in the ground and preventing it from toppling over or being uprooted.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Apr. 2026
Those shifts are significant enough to affect weather around the world, like a series of dominoes toppling over.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
But Iran, which watched the 2003 toppling of Saddam Hussein next door, has been hardening its regime ever since.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 6 Apr. 2026
Senior attackman Max Zicchitella paced things Saturday with a hat trick, as the Longmeadow boys registered an impressive victory by toppling perennial powerhouse Duxbury on the road, 7-5.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
But after toppling the Reds on Opening Day on the strength of six shutout innings from ace lefty Garrett Crochet and three hits from 21-year-old star in the making Roman Anthony, the Red Sox have lost five straight games.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
There are also concerns that toppling a regime that's been so firmly in control of the country for nearly half a century, with no obvious new administration waiting to take over, could simply create chaos.
—Haley Ott, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toppling
Verb
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By 2025, Anderson — then 59 and nearing completion of her bachelor’s degree — was failing classes and falling behind on bills.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) says lead paint is falling from six Baltimore-area bridges and contaminating waterways.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Lina cried out, stumbling backward.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Unlike the blue plaques affixed to residences in London, which indicate where notable figures once lived, or the Stolpersteine (or stumbling stones) embedded in the sidewalks of German cities to mark the former homes of Holocaust victims, Bucharest’s red disks are not commemorative but predictive.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Johnston was whistled for tripping Matt Boldy in the final minute of the first, and the Wild power play needed just seconds to give them their first lead.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
10 Apr. 2026
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While tripping with the foot is not allowed, an ankle tap, which is performed with the hand, is considered a tackle and is permissible.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Spot gold, which is currently trading at around $4,838 per ounce, has fallen about 10% from its late-January peak, slipping into correction territory even as geopolitical risks intensify.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
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That might mean slipping on an eye mask, starting a calming podcast, and sipping water or herbal tea.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Case in point, the dramatic lobby installations from star florist and designer Jeff Leatham, which might include gorgeous, tumbling floral displays in the spring, or a giant plexiglass reindeer in the winter.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
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Salesforce fell for its fifth straight session on Friday, tumbling nearly 12% for the week.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toppling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toppling. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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