topple

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'topple' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to describe something that is falling over or has fallen over due to an external force. Example Sentence: The strong wind blew the tree over, causing it to topple onto the ground.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He said he would initiate a vote to topple the coalition that has ruled for five decades.

The Guardian

David Cameron's party look well placed to topple Lib Dem incumbents in seats like Mid Dorset and North Poole, and St Austell and Newquay, where Labour was a distant third in 2010.

The Guardian

A first-time general election candidate who went to school in Sheffield Hallam, he is green enough to believe he can topple Clegg, but says: "This is not a decapitation strategy.

The Guardian

After some prevarication this spring, Trudeau ultimately rejected calls to form a coalition with the NDP in order to topple the Tories, citing personal differences with Mulcair.

The Guardian

Yet no scriptwriter of such a crime and corruption movie would have dared to so overdo the hubris as to have the president topple himself in the very week Fifa released its own actual movie in America, of self-glorification and Blatter sanctification.

The Guardian - Sport

Since the March 8 general elections when the ruling coalition suffered badly, reducing the government's grip on power, Anwar has launched a campaign to topple the government, which has a thin 30-seat majority in the 222-member parliament, with ongoing defections.

The Guardian

Zawahiri said: "Crusaders and secularists and the Americanised army have converged … with Gulf money and American plotting to topple Mohamed Morsi's government".

The Guardian

Seats where Tories could topple Lib Dems: Mid Dorset and North Poole Liberal Democrat majority 269 (2010).

The Guardian

The soon-to-be-published Chilcot report is expected to contain damning evidence surrounding how Blair and Bush jointly engaged in a rush to war to topple Saddam Hussein in the face of warnings of the risks of triggering sectarian divisions across the region.

The Guardian - Opinion

It can't be that hard to make a populist show better than Two and a Half Men to topple Sheen from his throne of money, can it?

The Guardian

Malaysia's opposition leader today said he had enough parliamentary support to topple the government and urged the prime minister to give up power peacefully.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "topple" when you want to convey a sense of instability or forceful removal, whether in a physical or political context. For example, "The statue toppled over during the earthquake" or "The scandal threatened to topple the government."

Common error

While "topple" is a versatile word, it can sound overly dramatic in casual conversation. In informal contexts, consider alternatives like "fall over" or "tip over" for physical objects.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "topple" is as a verb. It describes an action of overturning, overthrowing, or falling. As demonstrated by Ludwig AI, it is used both in physical and abstract contexts, such as "to topple the government" or when describing something that "totter and fall".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

19%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "topple" is a versatile verb used to describe overturning, overthrowing, or falling, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage spans both physical and abstract scenarios, often emphasizing instability or forceful removal. Predominantly found in "News & Media" and "Formal & Business" contexts, "topple" carries a neutral register suitable for serious and informative writing. While a powerful word, it should be used judiciously in informal settings, opting for alternatives like "tip over" or "fall over" where appropriate. With a solid understanding of its nuances, you can confidently and effectively employ "topple" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overthrow

Implies a forceful removal from power or a position of authority, similar to "topple" but often more politically charged.

overturn

Suggests reversing a decision or an order, or physically turning something upside down, partially overlapping with "topple" in the latter sense.

dethrone

Specifically refers to removing a monarch from their throne, a more specific form of "topple" in a political context.

unseat

To remove someone from a position of power or authority, typically in a political or organizational context.

bring down

Indicates causing the downfall of a person, system, or organization, with a slightly broader application than "topple".

subvert

To undermine the power and authority of an established system or institution, often secretly or gradually.

destabilize

Implies making something unstable or insecure, which can lead to its potential "toppling".

overpower

Suggests defeating someone or something by using greater force, which can result in the target being "toppled".

oust

To drive out or expel someone from a position or place, which can be a form of "toppling".

depose

To remove someone from office suddenly and forcefully, like in a coup, overlapping with the political meaning of "topple".

FAQs

How can I use "topple" in a sentence?

"Topple" is a verb that means to overturn or overthrow something, or to totter and fall. For example, "The protesters sought to "overthrow" the government" or "The stack of books began to "fall over"."

What's a less formal synonym for "topple"?

In more casual situations, you can use words like "tip over" or "fall over" instead of "topple", especially when referring to physical objects. For instance, rather than "The vase toppled", you might say "The vase "tipped over"".

Is "topple" always negative?

While "topple" often describes negative events like the "overthrow" of a government or the collapse of a structure, it can also be used neutrally to describe something simply falling or overturning without negative consequences.

What's the difference between "topple" and "collapse"?

"Topple" implies a loss of balance and subsequent falling, often from an upright position. "Collapse" suggests a more complete and often destructive failure of structure. A building might "collapse", while a statue is more likely to "topple over".