dethrone

verb dethrones · dethroning · dethroned

1. To depose; to forcibly relieve a monarch of the monarchy. […] he (the said Pope) doth not onely claime to be spirituall head of all Christians, but also to haue an Imperiall Ciuill power ouer all Kings and Emperours, dethroning and decrowning princes with his foote, as pleaseth him […]

   Similar: depose, discrown, disenthrone, uncrown, unking, unmonarch, unqueen, unsceptre, unthrone · Opposite: coronate, crown, enthrone, king, queen

2. To remove any governing authority from power. Not only where the chief magistrate enters into measures, in themselves, extremely pernicious to the public, but even when he wou’d encroach on the other parts of the constitution, and extend his power beyond the legal bounds, it is allowable to resist and dethrone him;

   Similar: bring down, depose, divest, overthrow · Opposite: empower, install, invest, take office

3. To remove from any position of high status or power. 1753, Arthur Murphy, The Gray’s Inn Journal, No. 23, 24 March, 1753, Volume 1, London: P. Vaillant, 1756, p. 168, […] we conclude, sincerely wishing, that you may continue to display your usual Graces of Elocution, and admirable Powers of Action, untill Harlequin shall dethrone the great Shakespear,
4. figuratively To remove (something) from a position of power or paramount importance. All that was Good and Holy, is dethron’d, / And Lust, and Rapine are for justice own’d.