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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of usurp
That’s come just as the Edmonton Oilers have ripped off a season-best five straight victories to usurp the Ducks’ position atop the Pacific.
—
Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Vodka had overtaken gin in popularity by 1967, but by 2000 had fully usurped it, like Claudius to King Hamlet—occupied its position, married its wife, and taken control of its lands.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2026
By January 2025, Szczesny had become manager Hansi Flick’s No 1 choice in goal, putting together a string of solid performances and usurping Inaki Pena in the role.
—Pol Ballús, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
In other words, the apparatus that became the modern movie camera, up until digital technology usurped the role that film cameras played in capturing the first 100 years of filmmaking.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Vodka had overtaken gin in popularity by 1967, but by 2000 had fully usurped it, like Claudius to King Hamlet—occupied its position, married its wife, and taken control of its lands.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2026
By January 2025, Szczesny had become manager Hansi Flick’s No 1 choice in goal, putting together a string of solid performances and usurping Inaki Pena in the role.
—Pol Ballús, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
In other words, the apparatus that became the modern movie camera, up until digital technology usurped the role that film cameras played in capturing the first 100 years of filmmaking.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurp
Verb
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That collapse is spurred not just by Napoleon, but also outside pressure from the human-run Pilkington Corporation, intent on reclaiming the freedom that these precious cartoon animals just seized.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
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Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of a blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His first exhibition in 1963 reportedly caused a stir, with a vice squad identifying pornography in at least two of his paintings and confiscating them.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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His first exhibition in 1963 reportedly caused a stir, with a vice squad identifying pornography in at least two of his paintings, and confiscating them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Someone on South Bascom Avenue reported a check that had previously been stolen from the mail at her apartment complex led to her bank account information being stolen and a $500 charge being made.—
Jake Richardson,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
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Police said the group stole items from the store before driving away in the SUV.—
Elyssa Kaufman,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Mikal Bridges grabbed the offensive rebound and threw it out to Jalen Brunson.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
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The director also grabbed images on the fly, using his iPhone during location scouting to get close-ups of the insects and on set during forest chases.—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Nonetheless, Israel has continued to strike deep within Lebanon, and its army occupies much of the country’s south.—
Sarah Tamimi,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
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More commonly, prescribed burning is halted because Forest Service staff are occupied fighting wildfires.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Decadents often end up converting to Catholicism.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
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In a financial environment where nothing feels certain, the ability to convert a lump sum of savings into a predictable monthly check — one that doesn't fluctuate based on what the market is doing — carries real value.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Usurp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurp. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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