Words / C1

TOPL/ˈtɒpl/

To topple is to become unsteady and fall, or to remove a leader from power: topple over, topple a government. Fall is everyday; overthrow (already in the dictionary) is the political cousin, often forceful; wobble is weaker. Do not inflate a leaked n into a coup, and do not ignore it as nothing.

Meaning

To become unsteady and fall, or to remove a leader from power.

Examples

• “A leaked n will not topple a government; it can still halt a sitting.”
• “Fall is everyday. Overthrow is already in this course and heavier. Oust is remove from post. A vase topples. A cabinet falls in politics. Scale the claim to the institution. Halt the sitting; leave the state alone.”

Good to know

Fall over; or force a leader out. Everyday: fall. Close: overthrow (already in the dictionary). A leak can halt a sitting without being a coup.

Near in meaning

overthrow

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