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Overthrow vs Overcome - What's the difference?

overthrow | overcome |

Overcome is a synonym of overthrow.



In transitive terms the difference between overthrow and overcome

is that overthrow is to bring about the downfall of (a government, etc.), especially by force while overcome is to surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.

As verbs the difference between overthrow and overcome

is that overthrow is to throw down to the ground, to overturn while overcome is to surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.

As a noun overthrow

is a removal, especially of a ruler or government, by force or threat of force.

overthrow

English

Etymology 1

From .

Verb

  • To throw down to the ground, to overturn.
  • * 1526 , William Tyndale, trans. Bible , John II:
  • And he made a scourge of smale cordes, and drave them all out off the temple, bothe shepe and oxen, and powred doune the changers money, and overthrue their tables.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
  • His wife overthrew the table.
  • To bring about the downfall of (a government, etc.), especially by force.
  • I hate the current government, but not enough to want to overthrow them.
  • * Dryden
  • When the walls of Thebes he overthrew .
  • * Shakespeare
  • [Gloucester] that seeks to overthrow religion.
    Derived terms
    * overthrowal

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A removal, especially of a ruler or government, by force or threat of force.
  • *
  • What then must we do? Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race!
    Hypernyms
    * (removal by force) downfall
    Coordinate terms
    * (removal by force) collapse

    Etymology 2

    Verb

  • (intransitive) To throw (something) so that it goes too far.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (sports) A throw that goes too far.
  • He overthrew first base, for an error.
  • (cricket) A run scored by the batting side when a fielder throws the ball back to the infield, whence it continues to the opposite outfield.
  • Quotations

    * * (seeCites)

    overcome

    English

    Verb

  • To surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.
  • :to overcome enemies in battle
  • *Spenser
  • *:This wretched woman overcome / Of anguish, rather than of crime, hath been.
  • *1898 , , (Moonfleet), Ch.4:
  • *:By and by fumes of brandy began to fill the air, and climb to where I lay, overcoming the mouldy smell of decayed wood and the dampness of the green walls.
  • (obsolete) To win (a battle).
  • *:
  • *:Ther with all cam kyng Arthur but with a fewe peple and slewe on the lyfte hand and on the ryght hand that wel nyhe ther escaped no man / but alle were slayne to the nombre of xxx M / And whan the bataille was all ended the kynge kneled doune and thanked god mekely / and thenne he sente for the quene and soone she was come / and she maade grete Ioye of the ouercomynge of that bataille
  • To win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.
  • :
  • *
  • , chapter=2, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. And if the arts of humbleness failed him, he overcame you by sheer impudence.}}
  • (usually in passive) To overwhelm with emotion.
  • :
  • To come or pass over; to spread over.
  • *Shakespeare
  • *:And overcome us like a summer's cloud.
  • To overflow; to surcharge.
  • :
  • References

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