overthrow

verb

over·​throw ˌō-vər-ˈthrō How to pronounce overthrow (audio)
overthrew ˌō-vər-ˈthrü How to pronounce overthrow (audio) ; overthrown ˌō-vər-ˈthrōn How to pronounce overthrow (audio) ; overthrowing

transitive verb

1
2
: to cause the downfall of : bring down, defeat
3
: to throw a ball over or past (something or someone, such as a base or a receiver)
overthrow noun
Choose the Right Synonym for overthrow

conquer, vanquish, defeat, subdue, reduce, overcome, overthrow mean to get the better of by force or strategy.

conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

Examples of overthrow in a Sentence

The quarterback overthrew his receiver.
Recent Examples on the Web Armed groups have burned down police stations and released thousands of inmates from two prisons, in what one gang leader described as an attempt to overthrow Henry’s government. Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 Yemen was ruled by a Zaydi imamate for 1,000 years, until it was overthrown in 1962. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2024 At the root of the mistrust is Washington’s belief that China seeks to undermine the current international order, and Beijing’s view that the United States seeks to curb China’s rise and overthrow its Communist Party leadership. Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Feb. 2024 He was awarded the 1971 Nobel Literature Prize, two years before socialist President Salvador Allende, to whom Neruda was close, was overthrown by the military under Pinochet. Reuters, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2024 As a young man, he was arrested and accused of trying to overthrow the government. John Eligon Joao Silva, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024 Purdy’s pass was overthrown and Samuel had no chance of catching the ball. Jose Carlos Fajardo, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024 After Palestinian refugee camps in Syria were caught up in the fighting and many Palestinians killed, Hamas’s leaders decamped to Qatar and Turkey—the states that were the chief backers of the Sunni rebel groups that were seeking to overthrow the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Toby Matthiesen, Foreign Affairs, 9 Feb. 2024 The Arab Spring in 2011, when young people helped to overthrow leaders in Egypt and Tunisia, set the stage for other youth uprisings in Africa, Dr. Honwana said. John Eligon Joao Silva, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overthrow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overthrow was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near overthrow

Cite this Entry

“Overthrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overthrow. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

overthrow

verb
over·​throw -ˈthrō How to pronounce overthrow (audio)
overthrew -ˈthrü How to pronounce overthrow (audio) ; overthrown -ˈthrōn How to pronounce overthrow (audio) ; overthrowing
1
: overturn sense 1, upset
lawn chairs overthrown by the gale
2
: defeat entry 1, destroy
a government overthrown by rebels
3
: to throw a ball over or past
overthrew second base
overthrow noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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