How to say "overturn" in Japanese

• 覆すくつがえすJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbUsed for overturning in a forceful or decisive sense: toppling a government, reversing a decision, or upsetting established ideas, and also for capsizing boats and vehicles. The dominant choice for figurative overturning.
• 返すかえすJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbPrimarily a verb of returning or handing back; its 'turn over / overturn' gloss covers the literal physical act of flipping or turning something upside down. For figurative overturning of decisions or regimes it is seldom the word you want.

Use 「覆す」 for overturning something abstract such as a government, decision, or theory, or for capsizing; 「返す」 covers literal physical turning over or upside down of objects.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 覆すくつがえすto overturn
• 返すかえすto turn over
• ひっくり返すひっくりかえすto overturn (e.g. a decision)