as in to seize
to take ownership or control of (something) by right of one's authority
anything that might be used as a weapon will be confiscated by the security guards
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Recent Examples of confiscate
The regime confiscated all of his assets last week.
—
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
At that time, the government cited the security law, saying that the funds and tools used or intended to be used in committing an offense shall be confiscated, as well as proceeds obtained in the commission of an offense.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Police quickly handcuffed Fields and then confiscated his van and a handgun.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
That same year, his Brazilian and Spanish passports were confiscated due to the unpaid fines and taxes, per ESPN.
—Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confiscate
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
At that time, the government cited the security law, saying that the funds and tools used or intended to be used in committing an offense shall be confiscated, as well as proceeds obtained in the commission of an offense.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Police quickly handcuffed Fields and then confiscated his van and a handgun.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
That same year, his Brazilian and Spanish passports were confiscated due to the unpaid fines and taxes, per ESPN.
—Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confiscate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confiscate
Verb
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That’s been enough for Minnesota to seize a 2-1 lead after trailing by 19 points early in Game 2.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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The other ship taken by Iran, the Francesca, stopped transmitting in the same area where it was seized.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Since the injury, goalie masks changed to include a piece of protection that was attached; the masks now extend to cover a wider portion to ensure that what happened to Malarchuk would not occur again.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Apr. 2026
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Graham King—the British producer behind Martin Scorsese films like The Aviator (2004) and The Departed (2006) as well as Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)—secures the rights from the Jackson estate to make a film about Michael Jackson with screenwriter John Logan attached.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Confiscate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confiscate. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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