OVERTHROW Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'overthrow' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of overthrow are conquer , defeat , overcome , reduce , subdue , and vanquish . While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power. // violently overthrew the old regime

Q: When might 'conquer' be a better fit than 'overthrow'?

While in some cases nearly identical to overthrow , conquer implies gaining mastery of. // Caesar conquered Gaul

Q: How are the words 'defeat' and 'vanquish' related as synonyms of 'overthrow'?

Defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals. // the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

Q: Where would 'overcome' be a reasonable alternative to 'overthrow'?

The meanings of overcome and overthrow largely overlap; however, overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle. // overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

Q: When is it sensible to use 'reduce' instead of 'overthrow'?

Although the words reduce and overthrow have much in common, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender. // the city was reduced after a month-long siege

Q: When can 'subdue' be used instead of 'overthrow'?

The synonyms subdue and overthrow are sometimes interchangeable, but subdue implies a defeating and suppression. // subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

Q: When is 'vanquish' a more appropriate choice than 'overthrow'?

The words vanquish and overthrow are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vanquish implies a complete overpowering. // vanquished the enemy and ended the war

overthrow 1 of 2

noun

Definition of overthrow

as in defeat

failure to win a contest the surprising overthrow of the world's top-ranked chess player

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

overthrow

2 of 2

verb

as in to topple

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

as in to overwhelm

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb overthrow differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of overthrow are conquer, defeat, overcome, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.

violently overthrew the old regime

When might conquer be a better fit than overthrow?

While in some cases nearly identical to overthrow, conquer implies gaining mastery of.

Caesar conquered Gaul

How are the words defeat and vanquish related as synonyms of overthrow?

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

the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas

Where would overcome be a reasonable alternative to overthrow?

The meanings of overcome and overthrow largely overlap; however, overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.

overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks

When is it sensible to use reduce instead of overthrow?

Although the words reduce and overthrow have much in common, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.

the city was reduced after a month-long siege

When can subdue be used instead of overthrow?

The synonyms subdue and overthrow are sometimes interchangeable, but subdue implies a defeating and suppression.

subdued the native tribes after years of fighting

When is vanquish a more appropriate choice than overthrow?

The words vanquish and overthrow are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vanquish implies a complete overpowering.

vanquished the enemy and ended the war

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of overthrow

Noun

Unlike the Labour mainstream, which sought to alleviate inequality through democratic reform, Militant believed in the overthrow of British capitalism, by force if necessary. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026 None of their bodies were recovered until after the 2003 overthrow of Hussein’s regime. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Verb

The speedy receiver got open with regularity and would have had a touchdown in the second quarter if King didn’t overthrow him on his way to the end zone. — Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026 In the summer of 1991, a group of conspirators staged a muddled coup to overthrow then-USSR president Mikhail Gorbachev, ultimately accelerating the shift from communism to capitalism. — Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overthrow

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overthrow

Noun

De Fougerolles featured in all five of Canada’s World Cup matches, starting four, including in the co-hosts’ last-16 3-0 defeat against Morocco on July 4.

— Tom Bogert, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
The Tar Heels lost two NBA players in Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar from a team that lost in the round of 64 in March at the NCAA Tournament, a defeat that precipitated the firing of former men’s head coach Hubert Davis.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of defeat

Verb

After Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the militant group once led by Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Shara, toppled the Assad regime at the end of 2024, regional trade began to trickle back in.

— Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
Adam had been working out at the gym when the man on the running machine next to him had toppled off it while watching a replay of the previous night’s Champions League highlights.

— Helen Simpson, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of topple

Verb

But the speed and scale of investment could also overwhelm the institutions needed to manage it.

— Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
Ukraine possesses substantial counter-drone equipment, but the sheer volume of FPVs has the potential to overwhelm kinetic defenses.

— Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of overwhelm

Verb

But if the stay is lifted or overturned, USPS would require states to submit lists of mail ballot recipients and get approval for envelope and ballot designs with individualized barcodes.

— Peter Weber, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026
Bans can last five to 10 years, and some have been successfully overturned in court, lawyers say.

— Daniel Estrin, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of overturn

Verb

Twelve of them, plus one former jumper, lost their lives in 1949 when the Mann Gulch Fire, in Montana, overran them.

— M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
The punchline became a very unfunny one when the Wehrmacht launched its blitzkrieg campaign in May, overrunning Belgium and the Netherlands in a matter of days.

— David Szondy August 30, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of overrun

Noun

Mayer’s three professional defeats have now all come in England, following split-decision losses to Alycia Baumgardner in London in 2022 and Natasha Jonas in Liverpool in 2024.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
After missing the playoffs in 2025, Martin started off on a great note, handing a solid Mansfield program a 38-35 loss.

— Charles Baggarly August 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of loss

Verb

Both Bam and Giannis, especially Giannis, have thrived on those inverted [pick-and-rolls] when the guy screening for them is a shooter.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Maresca’s solution was to push Fernandez upfield into the left pocket and invert a full-back into deep midfield next to Caicedo, as well as slowing Chelsea’s possession play to keep the team more compact and better able to manage counter-attacks.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of invert

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overthrew

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overthrowing

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“Overthrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overthrow. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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