How is the word replace distinct from other similar verbs?
Some common synonyms of replace are displace, supersede, and supplant. While all these words mean "to put out of a usual or proper place or into the place of another," replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate.
replaced the broken window
When is it sensible to use displace instead of replace?
The words displace and replace are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, displace implies an ousting or dislodging.
war had displaced thousands
When would supersede be a good substitute for replace?
While the synonyms supersede and replace are close in meaning, supersede implies replacing a person or thing that has become superannuated, obsolete, or otherwise inferior.
the new edition supersedes all previous ones
In what contexts can supplant take the place of replace?
The synonyms supplant and replace are sometimes interchangeable, but supplant implies either a dispossessing or usurping of another's place, possessions, or privileges or an uprooting of something and its replacement with something else.
was abruptly supplanted in her affections by another
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of replaceThe Knights are looking to replace starters Nyjalik Kelly and Malachi Lawrence on the edge, making the addition of Dall crucial in building the rotation for 2026.—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026 This innovative approach not only speeds the design process but also frees up designers to focus on more creative tasks, demonstrating how AI can be used as a tool to augment human creativity rather than replace it.—Li Jun, Footwear News, 11 Jan. 2026 That’s because replacing windows can help with energy conservation, making the project eligible for this type of financing.—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026 During an investigation, Busfield, who is known for his role as Danny Concannon on The West Wing, allegedly told police that the parents were upset their sons had been replaced with a younger actor who auditioned, according to the warrant.—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for replace
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are among six defendants named in a four-count superseding indictment that accused them of conspiring with violent, dangerous drug traffickers for the last 25 years.
—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
7 Jan. 2026
California leads all states in trying to regulate AI, and is expected to fight against the president’s recent executive order to develop federal laws around AI that would supersede state laws.
Power has since been restored, but some services are still limited.
—
Ashley Portillo,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
The projects included restoring two bread ovens at a bakery destroyed by Russian warfare, and purchasing a delivery van so that bread could reach more people.
—
Liz Rothaus Bertrand,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
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