supplant

verb

sup·​plant sə-ˈplant 

supplanted; supplanting; supplants

transitive verb

1

: to supersede (another) especially by force or treachery

2

a(1)

obsolete : uproot

(2)

: to eradicate and supply a substitute for

efforts to supplant the vernacular

b

: to take the place of and serve as a substitute for especially by reason of superior excellence or power

supplantation

(ˌ)sə-ˌplan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

supplanter

sə-ˈplan-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• cut out
• displace
• displant
• relieve
• replace
• substitute
• supersede

Choose the Right Synonym for supplant

replace, displace, supplant, supersede mean to put out of a usual or proper place or into the place of another.

replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate.

replaced the broken window

displace implies an ousting or dislodging.

war had displaced thousands

supplant implies either a dispossessing or usurping of another's place, possessions, or privileges or an uprooting of something and its replacement with something else.

was abruptly supplanted in her affections by another

supersede implies replacing a person or thing that has become superannuated, obsolete, or otherwise inferior.

the new edition supersedes all previous ones

Examples of supplant in a Sentence

old traditions that were fading away and being supplanted by modern ways

Recent Examples on the Web

The favorite to supplant Mr. Scholz, Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democrats, has promised to slash regulation — including scaling back some climate goals — reduce taxes and build new advanced nuclear fusion reactors in a bid to push energy costs down. —Melissa Eddy, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

Who wouldn’t want to live in a world where power hasn’t supplanted justice, and mistakes, rather than defining you, provide an opportunity to learn and grow? —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2025

Bassey had supplanted Zach Collins as Johnson’s preferred backup for Wembanyama, a factor in Collins being part of the trade for Fox. —Mike Monroe, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025

As for Corbet, who has been supplanting his income with directing gigs on Portuguese commercials, the success coming away from The Brutalist should set him up for feature opportunities with greener pastures. A24 and reps for Corbet didn’t return request for comment on this story. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French supplanter, from Latin supplantare to trip up, cause to stumble, from sub- + planta sole of the foot — more at place

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for supplant

• decant
• descant
• eggplant
• enchant
• explant
• implant
• preplant
• recant
• replant
• secant
• transplant
• ant

Kids Definition

supplant

verb

sup·​plant sə-ˈplant 

1

: to take the place of (another) especially by force or treachery

2

a

: to root out and supply a substitute for

b

: to gain the place of and serve as a substitute for especially by reason of superior excellence or power

supplantation

(ˌ)sə-ˌplan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

supplanter

sə-ˈplant-ər 

noun