as in falling
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 toppling
The Iranian diaspora has made its presence felt throughout the three-day gathering, chanting in the convention center halls, sometimes arm-in-arm with the overwhelmingly pro-Trump crowd, and cheering on speakers who support toppling the regime.
—
Moriah Thomas, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
There are also concerns that toppling a regime that's been so firmly in control of the country for nearly half a century, with no obvious new administration waiting to take over, could simply create chaos.
—Haley Ott, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Dozens of shipping containers on a vessel at the Port of Long Beach were lost or damaged after heavy weather sent them toppling over in the harbor, the Coast Guard said.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
The first stirrings of the heat wave arrived Sunday, toppling daily high temperature records in Redwood City and San Rafael.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
The mayor cited an example of streetlight poles whose bases are so rusted and corroded that there is a danger of them toppling over.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
Parts of Arkansas were under a tornado warning Sunday, with high winds toppling trees.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 16 Mar. 2026
In November 1987, however, just one day before Mabrouk and his co-conspirators planned to launch their coup, then-Prime Minister Zine El Abidine Ben Ali carried out his own successful plot, toppling the regime and placing Bourguiba under house arrest.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
McDonnell is the village president of North Barrington, rising to the seat after toppling the two-term incumbent in 2019.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Moriah Thomas, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
There are also concerns that toppling a regime that's been so firmly in control of the country for nearly half a century, with no obvious new administration waiting to take over, could simply create chaos.
—Haley Ott, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Dozens of shipping containers on a vessel at the Port of Long Beach were lost or damaged after heavy weather sent them toppling over in the harbor, the Coast Guard said.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
The first stirrings of the heat wave arrived Sunday, toppling daily high temperature records in Redwood City and San Rafael.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
The mayor cited an example of streetlight poles whose bases are so rusted and corroded that there is a danger of them toppling over.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
Parts of Arkansas were under a tornado warning Sunday, with high winds toppling trees.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 16 Mar. 2026
In November 1987, however, just one day before Mabrouk and his co-conspirators planned to launch their coup, then-Prime Minister Zine El Abidine Ben Ali carried out his own successful plot, toppling the regime and placing Bourguiba under house arrest.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
McDonnell is the village president of North Barrington, rising to the seat after toppling the two-term incumbent in 2019.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for toppling
Verb
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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All of this comes at a time when the market has greater appetite for larger scale deals, despite Lauder’s falling stock price.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Occasionally, King’s assistants, a pair of bulky guys with law-enforcement backgrounds, offered the stumbling line a corrective shove.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Ducks started their trip up five points on Connor McDavid and company, but held just a three-point edge after stumbling 4-2 on Saturday.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But there were too many moments early in the game in which the Illini looked out of control, badly missing shots, tripping on their drives.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
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The unwanted genetic material vanishes without a trace, which is what kept tripping scientists up for decades.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Before the pandemic shuttered the season, the Illini were in a slump, if not an entire freefall, a 16-5 start slipping to a 5-5 end.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
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The likes of Bannon (at one point arguing with Iranian opposition supporters about what was best for their country) and Matt Gaetz, the former member of Congress, warned that the United States risked slipping into a forever war.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The conflict has sent oil prices surging and stocks tumbling on inflation and economic growth fears.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The token has been volatile since the conflict in Iran began in late February, at one point jumping to a high of nearly $76,000 before tumbling once more as tensions in the region escalated.—
Emily Nicolle,
Fortune,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Toppling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/toppling. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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