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Retreat vs Overthrow - What's the difference?

retreat | overthrow |

As nouns the difference between retreat and overthrow

is that retreat is the act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant while overthrow is a removal, especially of a ruler or government, by force or threat of force or overthrow can be (sports) a throw that goes too far.

As verbs the difference between retreat and overthrow

is that retreat is to withdraw military forces while overthrow is to throw down to the ground, to overturn or overthrow can be (intransitive) to throw (something) so that it goes too far.

retreat

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.
  • * Shakespeare
  • In a retreat he outruns any lackey.
  • The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position.
  • A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security.
  • * L'Estrange
  • He built his son a house of pleasure, and spared no cost to make a delicious retreat .
  • * Dryden
  • That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat / From sudden April showers, a shelter from the heat.
  • A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude.
  • A period of meditation, prayer or study.
  • Withdrawal by military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack.
  • A signal for a military withdrawal.
  • A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base.
  • A military ceremony to lower the flag.
  • (chess) The move of a piece from a threatened position.
  • See also

    * religious retreat

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To withdraw military forces.
  • Anagrams

    * *

    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)