as in falling
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily
the tower of blocks toppled even though I bumped into it ever so slightly
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Recent Examples of toppling
The flower stem can grow to be two to three feet tall or more, often making the plant somewhat top-heavy, so staking or weighing down the container can help prevent the pot from toppling over.
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Janet Carson, arkansasonline.com, 30 Dec. 2024
Then came Ukraine’s Maidan revolution in 2013, when tens of thousands of Ukrainians filled Kyiv’s Maidan square for days before toppling the pro-Russia regime.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Dec. 2024
Countries in Africa, Central Asia, and, to a lesser extent, Latin America found Moscow’s ability to defend an allied regime from domestic turbulence and toppling reassuring.
—Alexander Baunov, Foreign Affairs, 26 Dec. 2024
While toppling the old system was swift, overhauling it will take time — and the students and the technocrats now in charge may not have that luxury.
—Saif Hasnat Atul Loke, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends tethering the tree to a hook to stop it from toppling and monitoring your dog to avoid pine needle ingestion.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, Syria recently faced a rebellion and fighters toppling former President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
These include placing a physical barrier around the tree, such as a baby gate or playpen, anchoring it securely to prevent it from toppling, and avoiding breakable ornaments or tinsel that can attract a dog's curiosity.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
State services had already broken down before Assad’s toppling.
—Sam Heller, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
Janet Carson, arkansasonline.com, 30 Dec. 2024
Then came Ukraine’s Maidan revolution in 2013, when tens of thousands of Ukrainians filled Kyiv’s Maidan square for days before toppling the pro-Russia regime.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Dec. 2024
Countries in Africa, Central Asia, and, to a lesser extent, Latin America found Moscow’s ability to defend an allied regime from domestic turbulence and toppling reassuring.
—Alexander Baunov, Foreign Affairs, 26 Dec. 2024
While toppling the old system was swift, overhauling it will take time — and the students and the technocrats now in charge may not have that luxury.
—Saif Hasnat Atul Loke, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends tethering the tree to a hook to stop it from toppling and monitoring your dog to avoid pine needle ingestion.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, Syria recently faced a rebellion and fighters toppling former President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
These include placing a physical barrier around the tree, such as a baby gate or playpen, anchoring it securely to prevent it from toppling, and avoiding breakable ornaments or tinsel that can attract a dog's curiosity.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
State services had already broken down before Assad’s toppling.
—Sam Heller, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toppling
Verb
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The Governor of Smolensk Region claims that all drones were successfully shot down, and the fire was caused by falling debris.George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
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The ants’ stunning medical abilities have the potential to help where human ones are falling short.Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Don't Use An Extension Cord In general, extension cords aren't a great idea because of the tripping hazard and the potential for overheating.Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025
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For older people with weaker bones, tripping while walking can sometimes cause a fracture.Maggie Aime, MSN, Health, 25 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Harrison took Georgia’s second-half kickoff all the way to the end zone, slipping a tackle near the middle of the field, cutting toward the right sideline and outrunning everyone.Brett Martel, The Denver Post, 2 Jan. 2025
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Richardson failed at the first one; nailed the second, and was slipping on #3.Scott Powers, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near toppling
Cite this Entry
“Toppling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toppling. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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