overthrow

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "overthrow" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use it to refer to the act of overthrowing a government or other organization. For example, "The people of the country rose up in a popular revolution to overthrow the oppressive regime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr Al-Khawaja was tried before a military tribunal and given a life sentence for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the Bahrain government.

The Guardian - Opinion

Western officials who back rebel efforts to overthrow Assad have been reluctant to provide more anti-aircraft weapons, fearing they would fall into the hands of groups like the Nusra Front.

The Guardian

Another initiative that sprung up this month was a short-lived crowdfunding attempt asking for $10m to "overthrow" the government of North Korea.

The Guardian

Another issue for Salman will be managing Saudi relations with the US, the source of disappointment in Riyadh and impetuous moves by Abdullah in the last year after Obama sought to negotiate a nuclear deal and a wider rapprochement with Iran as well as failing to act militarily against the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, whose overthrow the Saudis are still seeking.

The Guardian

But for the bomb she should have compounded the offence, dismissing Kinnock, the Labour leader whose reformist courage should have commanded respect, as a puppet of the hard left – the "enemies of freedom" who sought to overthrow democratic institutions.

The Guardian

The British mercenary Simon Mann, who was sentenced to 34 years in prison in Equatorial Guinea last year for plotting to overthrow the oil-rich country's government, has been granted a presidential pardon.

The Guardian

The confrontation sparked night-long clashes that left at least 11 dead, some of them Brotherhood supporters, and began a spiral of political upheaval that led the army to overthrow Morsi in July following days of mass protests.

The Guardian

After all, it was South Africa in the 1980s and we were trying to overthrow the state.

The Guardian

Earlier this primary season, Tea Party-aligned candidates lost a series of high-profile battles, including in Georgia, North Carolina and Kentucky, where there was a failed attempt to overthrow the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell.

The Guardian

In the seismic shifting of alliances around Mr Kabila in the early summer, he put this training programme of Rwandan exiles under the command of two of the Katangese generals who helped him overthrow President Sese Seko Mobuto and these same Rwandans, who were then fighting for the late dictator.

The Guardian

It will be fascinating to see how the Iranians and Saudis behave - and interact - if both accept the UN's invitation to attend next month's Geneva II peace conference on Syria, where they respectively back Bashar al-Assad and the (increasingly Islamist) armed opposition that is fighting to overthrow him.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overthrow" to convey a forceful or revolutionary change in power or authority. Avoid using it for minor or insignificant changes.

Common error

Avoid using "overthrow" when describing simple defeats or replacements. "Overthrow" implies a significant and often violent or forceful change in power or authority. For example, it is incorrect to say "The challenger overthrew the champion in the spelling bee"; a more appropriate word would be "defeated".

Linguistic Context

The word "overthrow" functions as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it describes the action of forcibly removing a government or system of power. As a noun, it refers to the act of such removal or the state resulting from it, as exemplified by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

94%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "overthrow" functions as both a verb and a noun, primarily used to describe the forceful removal of a government or established power structure. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently found in News & Media sources. While adaptable to various contexts, it commonly denotes significant and often violent shifts in authority. Therefore, it's important to use "overthrow" when describing political or systemic disruptions, avoiding its application to more minor changes. Related terms like "depose", "bring down", and "subvert" offer nuanced alternatives, each with specific implications. This ensures clarity and precision in writing about power dynamics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bring down the government

Emphasizes the action of causing a government to fall, highlighting the result of the "overthrow".

topple the establishment

Indicates overturning the existing order or power structure, sharing a similar revolutionary connotation with "overthrow".

oust from power

Focuses on the removal of someone from a position of authority, more specific than a general "overthrow".

stage a coup

Refers to a sudden and often violent seizure of power, usually by the military, which is a specific method of "overthrow".

depose the ruler

Specifically refers to removing a monarch or leader, carrying a more formal and historical tone than "overthrow".

dismantle the regime

Suggests a systematic deconstruction of a ruling system, differing from a single act of "overthrow".

subvert the system

Implies undermining the existing power structure, often through indirect or secretive means, differing from the direct action of an "overthrow".

unseat the leader

Specifically indicates removing a leader from their position, often in a political context, and is less forceful than "overthrow".

remove from office

A more general term that can apply to any position, not just governments, and doesn't necessarily imply force or revolution like "overthrow".

supplant the authority

Highlights the act of replacing one authority with another, focusing on the substitution rather than the act of "overthrow" itself.

FAQs

How is "overthrow" typically used in a sentence?

"Overthrow" is used to describe the act of forcibly removing a government or system of power. For instance, "The rebels planned to overthrow the dictator".

What are some alternatives to the word "overthrow"?

Alternatives include "depose", "bring down", or "subvert", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "overthrow" in a non-political context?

While primarily used in political contexts to describe the removal of governments, "overthrow" can also describe disrupting or overturning systems or established orders in other areas. However, it is better to use "replace" or "defeat" in non-political contexts.

What is the difference between "overthrow" and "oust"?

"Overthrow" typically implies a more forceful and complete removal of a government or system. "Oust", on the other hand, often refers to removing someone from a specific position or office but does not necessarily imply a complete change in power.