supplant
To replace something or someone, especially by force or treachery
Examples
In a meeting
“The new software will supplant our legacy system by the end of Q3.”
Over coffee
“Streaming services have completely supplanted cable TV in my house.”
Why this word
replace
replace means to take the place of something, while supplant implies displacing and taking the place of something through force or strategy
displace
displace means to move from a position, while supplant means to replace by force or treachery, often implying usurpation
substitute
substitute means to put in place of another, while supplant means to supersede and replace, often by force or scheming
Usage tip
Use when one thing doesn't just replace another, but actively pushes it out or makes it obsolete. Implies a more aggressive replacement than 'replace.'
Etymology
Latin: sub- (from below) + plantare (to plant) — literally 'to trip up by the heel'
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Related words
revamp
To give new and improved form, structure, or appearance to something.
deteriorate
To become progressively worse over time.
pivot
Change direction or strategy while maintaining a central focus
backtrack
To reverse a previous decision or statement
consolidation
The act of combining multiple things into a unified whole
revert
To return to a previous state or practice