overthrow

[oh-ver-throh, oh-ver-throh]

verb (used with object)

overthrew, overthrown, overthrowing. 

1. to depose, as from a position of power; overcome, defeat, or vanquish.

   to overthrow a tyrant.

   Synonyms: overpower, conquer

2. to put an end to by force, as a government or institution.

3. to throw or knock down; overturn; topple.

   The heavy winds overthrew numerous telephone poles and trees.

4. to knock down and demolish.

   Synonyms: level, raze, destroy

5. to throw (something) too far.

6. Baseball.,  (of a pitcher) to throw too hard, often affecting control or straining the arm.

7. Archaic.,  to destroy the sound condition of (the mind).

verb (used without object)

overthrew, overthrown, overthrowing. 

1. to throw too far.

   If I hadn't overthrown, it would have been a sure putout.

noun

1. the act of overthrowing; state or condition of being overthrown.

2. deposition from power.

3. defeat; destruction; ruin.

   Synonyms: fall

overthrow

verb

1. (tr) to effect the downfall or destruction of (a ruler, institution, etc), esp by force

2. (tr) to throw or turn over

3. (tr) to throw (something, esp a ball) too far

noun

1. an act of overthrowing

2. downfall; destruction

3. cricket

   1. a ball thrown back too far by a fielder

   2. a run scored because of this

Other Word Forms

• overthrower noun
• preoverthrow verb (used with object)
• unoverthrown adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overthrow¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; over-, throw

Example Sentences

India's support for Hasina has frayed relations between the two neighbours since her overthrow.

Read more on Barron's

It didn’t help that her husband—who’d known Hoxha when the two men were students together in Paris—was found guilty by a kangaroo court of plotting to overthrow the government.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He specifically wondered why President Embaló was the first to announce his own overthrow and drew contrasts with how other leaders in the region were ousted in recent coups.

Read more on BBC

"Twenty years of Afghan-US partnership must not be forgotten," the coalition's statement said, nodding to the two-decade effort launched by the US in 2001 to overthrow Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and establish security in the country.

Read more on BBC

Following the overthrow of the Imperial family in 1917 and their execution the following year, it was transferred from Saint Petersburg to Moscow in the 1920s.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• abolish 
• conquer 
• crush 
• depose 
• dethrone 
• eradicate 
• oust 
• overcome 
• overrun 
• overturn 
• put an end to 
• raze 
• subdue 
• subvert 
• topple 
• unseat 
• vanquish