Thesaurus results for USURP

usurp

verb

yu̇-ˈsərp

Definition of usurp

as in to seize

to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right the mayor usurped the school board's authority when he fired the principal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of usurp The head coach foresaw a transition taking place over a 12-to-18-month period, whereby Trafford would eventually usurp Pope, now 34. — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Jason Speaking of football-loving families, the Kelces seem to have usurped the Mannings for the sport’s first family. — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026 The 6-foot-6, 308-pounder was at Wisconsin from 2020-24 before finishing at Illinois last season and entering the 49ers’ defensive-line rotation this season, perhaps even usurping Alfred Collins in the starting lineup next to Osa Odighizuwa. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2026 After Davis’ single appearance, Anne Baxter would step in as the matriarch of the series (as a new character), an ironic echo of Baxter’s Eve ambitiously attempting to usurp Davis’ Margo in the classic All About Eve. — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for usurp

Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurp

Verb

Weafer said Russia may be seizing control of foreign companies in anticipation of a deal to secure Russian assets frozen abroad.

— David McHugh, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Italian authorities seized the sailboats, and the activists were reported to prosecutors for allegedly disrupting a public service.

— Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of seize

Verb

Escalona-Marrero arranged with a co-conspirator in Mexico to ship Cuban passports to the United States so Border Patrol would not confiscate them and travelers could later use them in asylum applications, authorities said.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
The roughly 3-inch pocket knife was confiscated by authorities, Manfre said.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of confiscate

Verb

Catcher William Contreras then threw out Simpson attempting to steal second after Simpson slid off the bag.

— Zak Gilbert, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
Tracy Letts steals the movie as a dryly observant United Artists studio head who’s eventually disarmed by Sly’s charms.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of steal

Verb

Finally, grab 32% off the Eufy E340 Security Video Doorbell with Chime, providing dual 2K cameras and color night vision.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
James scored 18 points, grabbed two rebounds and was a minus-22 going up against Paul Reed, and the 76ers were left to hope his presence at center was nothing more than a cameo.

— Dan Gelston, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of grab

Verb

According to the researchers, formation accounts for roughly one-third of battery production costs and occupies about a quarter of a manufacturing facility’s floor space.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
Gaga’s former penthouse is a corner duplex occupying the top two floors of the building.

— Meg Walters, InStyle, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of occupy

Verb

Reactors use a different fuel recipe The Sun primarily generates energy through the proton–proton chain, a sequence that ultimately converts hydrogen into helium.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Sometimes the Explorer Lounge is converted into a movie theater - always fun watching a film on a big screen.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of convert

Browse Nearby Words

usuals

usurp

usurpation

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Usurp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurp. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of usurp

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

candidate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes