1
as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
dissidents were shot, and their lands expropriated under his regime
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to evict
to end the occupancy or possession of
the state will have to expropriate scores of homeowners in order to build the new road
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to confiscate
to take ownership or control of (something) by right of one's authority
plans by the city to expropriate entire blocks of houses in order to bulldoze them for expansion of the airport
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expropriate
The White minority that had subjugated and ruled the Black majority after expropriating their land, herding them into poor Bantustans and profiting from their cheap labor, would yield to democracy and a new constitution that would grant the right to vote to all South Africans.
—
Lydia Polgreen, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
The government now uses the law as a weapon to expropriate property from bona fide owners, including those previously seen as regime supporters.
—Andrei Yakovlev, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025
His cardinal sin was nationalizing (not expropriating) the hugely profitable Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in 1951 which British Prime Minister Winston Churchill postulated was integral to the British Navy.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2025
However, a law passed by South Africa earlier this year does not allow land to be expropriated without an agreement with the owner.
—Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for expropriate
Lydia Polgreen, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
The government now uses the law as a weapon to expropriate property from bona fide owners, including those previously seen as regime supporters.
—Andrei Yakovlev, Foreign Affairs, 16 May 2025
His cardinal sin was nationalizing (not expropriating) the hugely profitable Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in 1951 which British Prime Minister Winston Churchill postulated was integral to the British Navy.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2025
However, a law passed by South Africa earlier this year does not allow land to be expropriated without an agreement with the owner.
—Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for expropriate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expropriate
Verb
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Leaders must continuously renew and reinvent their strategies to seize opportunities and stay ahead of the curve.—
Glenn Llopis,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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With each load seized, the cartel would take another bite off its own tail.—
Martin Suarez,
Rolling Stone,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Talks of a potential lease sale come as Miami-Dade continues court proceedings to try and evict the Seaquarium from the county land.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
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By a vote of 3-2, the houseguests voted to evict Will.—
David Wysong,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At a concurrent raid at the STUM’s headquarters, a dozen people in plain clothes, including the Shwe Pyi Thar ward administrator, were described as forcibly entering the office to confiscate laptops and cellphones.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The victims had had their passports and phones confiscated.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The news comes as the Cybertruck was recently usurped from its position as America's best-selling electric pickup truck in the first quarter of 2025.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
14 Sep. 2025
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Some of those who attempt to seize or usurp power unconstitutionally are killed during their takeover bid, particularly when security forces loyal to the incumbent leader foil the attack.—
Joe Wright,
The Conversation,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Effective budgeting and saving do not mean depriving yourself.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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The collateral damage caused by that saga has affected Newcastle’s early-season performances, depriving them of a senior centre-forward for the opening three games and generally generating toxicity.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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How can someone steal from you and simply get away with it?—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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Two innings later, Martin singled, stole second base and eventually scored the winning run in a ninth-inning comeback victory.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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How a state comes to control another land and its people, sometimes slowly dispossessing the natives of their lands, sometimes laying waste to them, sometimes committing genocide.—
Philip Metres
August 27,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
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The initial loss of communal land places those dispossessed into precarity.—
Taeya Boi-Doku,
JSTOR Daily,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Plus, grab knife sets and a nifty electric can opener to streamline your cooking.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
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As Jey checked on Jimmy, LA Knight grabbed the steel chair and teased hitting Jey Uso.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Expropriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expropriate. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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