topple
Lose your balance
Topple means to fall over or cause to fall, typically from an upright position: The statue toppled into the square.
The word suggests instability—something top-heavy losing its balance.
Figuratively, topple describes the overthrow of those in power: The revolution toppled the government.
What topples usually seemed secure before it fell.
Uncontrolled rolling descent
- tipEnd or gratuity
- overturnReverse or invalidate
- knock overCause to fall
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
capsize · collapse · fall · crash · drop · plunge · keel over · pitch
Remove from position
- deposeRemove from authority
- dethroneRemove from sovereignty
- unseatRemove from position
- overthrowForcible removal from power
remove · bring down · defeat · coup · usurp · regime change · power grab · rebellion
Sway without stability
- wobbleUnsteady side-to-side motion
- totterMove unsteadily, nearly falling
- swayRock back and forth
- rockSolid earthen material
shake · unsteady · precarious · off-balance · rickety · shaky · unstable · quiver
Successive downward flow
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- domino effectSequential causation phenomenon
- knock-onIndirect resulting effect
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
succession · trigger · momentum · ripple effect · one after another · snowball · consecutive · serial
tumble
Uncontrolled rolling descent
- tipEnd or gratuity
- overturnReverse or invalidate
- knock overCause to fall
upset · capsize · collapse · fall · crash · drop · plunge · keel over · pitch · spill
oust
Remove from position
overthrow · remove · bring down · defeat · coup · usurp · regime change · power grab · rebellion · insurrection
teeter
Sway without stability
rock · shake · unsteady · precarious · off-balance · rickety · shaky · unstable · quiver · tremble
cascade
Successive downward flow
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- domino effectSequential causation phenomenon
- knock-onIndirect resulting effect
sequence · succession · trigger · momentum · ripple effect · one after another · snowball · consecutive · serial
- demolitiondemolish, raze, bulldoze, controlled demolition, wreck
- collapsecollapse, cave in, cave-in, fall in, give way
- clumsinessclumsiness, clumsy, awkwardness, fumble, stumble
- downward motionsfall, drop, descend, plunge, sink
- takeovertakeover, take over, seize power, seizure, coup d'etat
- vertical motionascend, descend, rise, fall, climb
topplestabilize
Make firm or constant
stand · upright · stand firm · rise · steady
- pizza toppingIngredient over the cheese
- topping offFinishing by adding more
- topple overFall from upright position
- topping the chartsRanked first in popularity
- topping upAdding to restore fullness
- salad toppingAdded to dressed greens