topple

verb

top·​ple ˈtä-pəl How to pronounce topple (audio)
toppled; toppling ˈtä-p(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce topple (audio)
Synonyms of topplenext

intransitive verb

: to fall from or as if from being top-heavy

transitive verb

1
: to cause to topple
2
a
: overthrow sense 2
topple a dictator
b
: defeat sense 1

Synonyms of topple

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Examples of topple in a Sentence

The strong winds toppled many trees. The earthquake toppled the buildings. The tree toppled into the river. The rebels tried to topple the dictator. The phone company has toppled its local competition.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In June, months after the US toppled Maduro, Figuera briefly returned to Venezuela for a meeting with Rodríguez, in what the US called a first step in the transition process. — Anabella González, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 Midterm elections are the first real chance for progressives to topple longstanding narratives from within their own party that their ideology is not electable. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 Foreign oil companies and investors are moving into Venezuela seven months after the US toppled then-President Nicolás Maduro, betting the world’s largest crude reserves are finally open for business. — semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026 The foul weather sent trees toppling across the city, including on the Upper West Side in Manhattan and in Woodside, Queens, where a food truck was struck by a fallen tree, according to ABC. — Theodore Parisienne, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for topple

Word History

Etymology

frequentative of top entry 3

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of topple was in 1590

Rhymes for topple

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Browse Nearby Words

top plate
topple
toppo
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Cite this Entry

“Topple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topple. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

topple

verb
top·​ple ˈtäp-əl How to pronounce topple (audio)
toppled; toppling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce topple (audio)
1
: to fall over from being too heavy at the top
2
: to push over

More from Merriam-Webster on topple

Nglish: Translation of topple for Spanish Speakers

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