Synonyms of supersede

supersede

verb

ˌsü-pər-ˈsēd 

as in to replace

to take the place of

that edition of the dictionary that you have has been superseded by a more recent one

Synonyms & Similar Words

• replace
• supplant
• substitute
• relieve
• displace
• usurp
• displant
• preempt
• cut out

Synonym Chooser

How is the word supersede distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of supersede are displace, replace, and supplant. While all these words mean "to put out of a usual or proper place or into the place of another," supersede implies replacing a person or thing that has become superannuated, obsolete, or otherwise inferior.

the new edition supersedes all previous ones

When is it sensible to use displace instead of supersede?

The synonyms displace and supersede are sometimes interchangeable, but displace implies an ousting or dislodging.

war had displaced thousands

When can replace be used instead of supersede?

While the synonyms replace and supersede are close in meaning, replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate.

replaced the broken window

Where would supplant be a reasonable alternative to supersede?

The meanings of supplant and supersede largely overlap; however, 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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of supersede

He’s got work to do in terms of reading the game better and making better decisions at times, but minor hockey IQ questions are superseded by his pro build, pro skill and pro skating. —Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 27 June 2025

This policy supersedes the previous interview waiver guidelines announced on February 18 and marks a shift toward tighter screening as global travel returns to pre-pandemic levels. —Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025

All of these operating systems will be superseded in the fall by new releases, unified under version number 26. —Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2025

Trump appointed an old friend, Steve Witkoff, to supersede them, ignored their concerns, and exploded the jewels of American rocketry in the Donbas and Fordow. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 28 July 2025

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