as in fell
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily
the tower of blocks toppled even though I bumped into it ever so slightly
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Recent Examples of toppled
The 45th president’s victory in the crowded 2016 primary effectively toppled the existing Republican Establishment, injecting the party with a combination of populism and distrust that was especially hostile to the way things were done before.
—
Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
In Bangladesh, which saw its government toppled by mass protests in 2024, 53% of the population is under 30.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
But Apple nearly toppled before building its current empire.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Like any sport, chess and Go are worthwhile because of human struggles and storylines, champions made and toppled, the very fact that people are doomed to be imperfect but always striving to become just a bit better.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2026
Authorities said surveillance video showed one suspect smashing a window with a sledgehammer before running inside to attach the cable as shelves of chips and candy toppled around him.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
When this writer foolishly forgot her iPods inside the Palais, the 15-minute walk to fetch them — during which I was almost toppled over by wind and accosted by sleet — was enough to make her hole up in her hotel room for the rest of the day.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
Oli early Saturday over the deaths of dozens of people during violent protests in September that toppled the government and resulted in new elections.
—Binaj Gurubacharya, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
Firefighters found that the beam had broken off and toppled, throwing the workers roughly 30 feet and trapping one inside a concrete formwork platform.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
In Bangladesh, which saw its government toppled by mass protests in 2024, 53% of the population is under 30.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
But Apple nearly toppled before building its current empire.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Like any sport, chess and Go are worthwhile because of human struggles and storylines, champions made and toppled, the very fact that people are doomed to be imperfect but always striving to become just a bit better.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2026
Authorities said surveillance video showed one suspect smashing a window with a sledgehammer before running inside to attach the cable as shelves of chips and candy toppled around him.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
When this writer foolishly forgot her iPods inside the Palais, the 15-minute walk to fetch them — during which I was almost toppled over by wind and accosted by sleet — was enough to make her hole up in her hotel room for the rest of the day.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 28 Mar. 2026
Oli early Saturday over the deaths of dozens of people during violent protests in September that toppled the government and resulted in new elections.
—Binaj Gurubacharya, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
Firefighters found that the beam had broken off and toppled, throwing the workers roughly 30 feet and trapping one inside a concrete formwork platform.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toppled
Verb
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Floorboards were milled from walnut trees felled at a construction site in North Carolina.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
2 Apr. 2026
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With a hollow interior trunk, Stumpy was among 158 trees felled in 2024 as part of a project aimed at shoring up a sea wall near the National Mall.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The nearest Portugal defender stumbled as the ball came to Pulisic just in front of the 6-yard box.—
Michael Cunningham,
AJC.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
James, the Army veteran from Phoenix, had stumbled across it one night last June, while his wife slept.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The explosion tripped two electrical boxes not far away, Smith said, causing wires to detach from a power pole, which fell onto a minivan that became engulfed in flames.—
Jason Rantala,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Decades ago, Gambel’s quail were so numerous that residents tripped over them.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The story began on March 24, when a hiker slipped and fell from a 180-foot waterfall in wild New Zealand bush.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
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And, as prices slipped below key levels like $5,000, selling pressure picked up quickly, driven less by a major change in fundamentals and more by positioning.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Stock markets have tumbled, and recession odds have climbed.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, stocks have tumbled.—
Jay Ganglani,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toppled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toppled. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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