overthrow

verb

over·​throw ˌō-vər-ˈthrō 

overthrew ˌō-vər-ˈthrü  ; overthrown ˌō-vər-ˈthrōn  ; overthrowing

transitive verb

1

: overturn, upset

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

ˈō-vər-ˌthrō 

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

Think about it: in children's and YA fiction, mice talk and fight with swords, little girls have big red dogs as best friends, witches and wizards fly on brooms, and young people overthrow corrupt and unjust governments through grit and wit and a belief in themselves and each other. —Dr. Sayantani Dasgupta, TIME, 19 Oct. 2024

On Maidan, the central square downtown—formerly the scene of protests to overthrow corrupt regimes—thousands of small Ukrainian flags have been planted in memory of soldiers who’ve fallen in the fight against the Russian invasion. —Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2024

And Nix might’ve overthrown him a touch, but Franklin should probably reel that in. —Sarah Kelly, The Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2024

Tracing what was going on with those jazz tours: When Louis Armstrong arrived in the Congo, a plot was being planned by the CIA to overthrow the government. —Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

overthrow

verb

over·​throw -ˈthrō 

overthrew -ˈthrü  ; overthrown -ˈthrōn  ; 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

ˈō-vər-ˌthrō 

noun