supplant

[suh-plant, -plahnt]

verb (used with object)

1. to take the place of (another), as through force, scheming, strategy, or the like.

   Synonyms: succeed, remove

2. to replace (one thing) by something else.

supplant

/ ˌsʌplɑːnˈteɪʃən, səˈplɑːnt /

verb

1. (tr) to take the place of, often by trickery or force

   he easily supplanted his rival

Other Word Forms

• supplantation noun
• supplanter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of supplant¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English supplanten, from Latin supplantāre “to trip up, overthrow”; sup-, plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of supplant¹

C13: via Old French from Latin supplantāre to trip up, from sub- from below + planta sole of the foot

Synonym Study

See replace.

Example Sentences

The technology has brought one of those inflection points when new companies have a chance to supplant incumbent powers, the same way the incumbents were once challengers.

Read more on Barron's

These monsters have supplanted coal generators as the workhorses of the U.S. power grid because they are more efficient, less polluting and more flexible.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That official would, in effect, supplant the supervisors as the top decision-maker for the facilities, setting budgets and hiring staffers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Using the military to supplant the government of California or Los Angeles would undoubtedly be unlawful.

Read more on Salon

Overlooked by the Lions this summer and supplanted by Marcus Smith in England's first-choice XI, he seized his opportunity to impress.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• overthrow 
• succeed 
• supersede 
• undermine 
• unseat 
• usurp