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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of toppling
According to Alixandra, who didn't share her surname, Sparrow masterminded her own midnight feast by toppling the feeder and prying off the lid.
—
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
The persecution worsened more than a decade ago during uprisings that remade the Middle East by toppling dictators — including Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak — but in some places spiraled into civil war.
—Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
The uber-billionaire is now the world’s richest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, growing $100 billion more wealthy on Wednesday and toppling longtime title holder Elon Musk from his perch.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Powerful straight-line winds that strafed Carmichael neighborhoods, toppling trees and sending roof shingles and patio furniture flying, blew in on the coattails of thunderstorms that struck the Sacramento area Tuesday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Esmerelda in particular is one-note, nothing but a vain narcissist obsessed with toppling Ned.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Under Normil’s leadership, Haiti would see the fall of 18 neighborhoods and areas to armed gangs that joined forces in February of 2024 as an alliance known as Viv Ansanm with the goal of toppling the government.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Icicle Shimmer Collection Included in the Icicle Shimmer Collection is a holly jolly snowman juggling snowflakes, an adorable twinkling candy cane adorned with a big red bow, and a toppling tower of presents waiting to be unwrapped.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2025
That's a shame because using the knobs requires two hands to prevent the TinyTV from toppling.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
The persecution worsened more than a decade ago during uprisings that remade the Middle East by toppling dictators — including Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak — but in some places spiraled into civil war.
—Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
The uber-billionaire is now the world’s richest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, growing $100 billion more wealthy on Wednesday and toppling longtime title holder Elon Musk from his perch.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Powerful straight-line winds that strafed Carmichael neighborhoods, toppling trees and sending roof shingles and patio furniture flying, blew in on the coattails of thunderstorms that struck the Sacramento area Tuesday.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Esmerelda in particular is one-note, nothing but a vain narcissist obsessed with toppling Ned.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Under Normil’s leadership, Haiti would see the fall of 18 neighborhoods and areas to armed gangs that joined forces in February of 2024 as an alliance known as Viv Ansanm with the goal of toppling the government.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Icicle Shimmer Collection Included in the Icicle Shimmer Collection is a holly jolly snowman juggling snowflakes, an adorable twinkling candy cane adorned with a big red bow, and a toppling tower of presents waiting to be unwrapped.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2025
That's a shame because using the knobs requires two hands to prevent the TinyTV from toppling.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toppling
Verb
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This can be something forceful falling or pressing on the toe or twisting it in an awkward manner.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Borrowers aged 18 to 29 are also falling 90 or more days late on auto loans faster than older borrowers.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The episode ends with a surreal, graphic deepfake scene of a totally nude Donald Trump stumbling around a desert.—
Nick Marx,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
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Inside the agency, Dudek, ill-prepared for leadership or for DOGE’s murky agenda, was stumbling through the chaos in part by creating some of his own.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But the truth is, the Rockies (41-109) are tripping toward the finish line.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
14 Sep. 2025
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In my heavy-tripping state, the taste is glorious.—
R29 Team,
Refinery29,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Operationally, Applebee’s and IHOP are slipping behind competitors.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Comfort definitely improved, but performance didn’t always keep pace — there were times when traction suffered, leading to more slipping and, in my opinion, the softer spikes could leave deeper indentations on greens that sometimes-affected putting.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Even the announcement of company lifer Fiddelke’s ascension to the top job last month was greeted with tumbling stock shares because some investors wanted an outsider.—
Dan Gingiss,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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The footage shows an MQ-9 Reaper drone tracking the object before a second drone fires a Hellfire missile, sending fragments tumbling around it.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Toppling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toppling. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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