1
as in seized
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
archaeologists wrongfully appropriated artifacts excavated at ancient sites for their museums
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in stole
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
you can't just appropriate somebody's term paper and put your name on it!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of appropriated
The funds would be pulled from money that Congress appropriated for health programs tackling malaria, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, nutrition, global health security, HIV/AIDS and more, two federal health policy experts told CNN.
—
Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Cohen is careful not to let enthusiasm for the science bleed into endorsement of the wellness industry that has appropriated it.
—Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
The administration has refused to spend money Congress has appropriated, like for foreign aid, and has spent money that Congress has not appropriated, like to pay DHS employees despite a shutdown.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
The symbols were easily appropriated for marketing by roadside vendors but weren’t indicative of the separate and distinct Native American cultures in the area.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
That money is appropriated annually by Congress, where there is widespread support for the alliance.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
By state law, the legislature is supposed to fund 92% of those excess costs, but since 2011, the legislature has not appropriated enough to reach that mark.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Attorneys for the federal government were only able to file a motion to reopen the case once Congress appropriated Justice Department funds.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2026
But Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said in a statement to The Bee that the legal expenses more than paid for themselves when the state won back $188 billion in money that Congress had appropriated, but the administration was withholding.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Cohen is careful not to let enthusiasm for the science bleed into endorsement of the wellness industry that has appropriated it.
—Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
The administration has refused to spend money Congress has appropriated, like for foreign aid, and has spent money that Congress has not appropriated, like to pay DHS employees despite a shutdown.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
The symbols were easily appropriated for marketing by roadside vendors but weren’t indicative of the separate and distinct Native American cultures in the area.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
That money is appropriated annually by Congress, where there is widespread support for the alliance.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
By state law, the legislature is supposed to fund 92% of those excess costs, but since 2011, the legislature has not appropriated enough to reach that mark.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Attorneys for the federal government were only able to file a motion to reopen the case once Congress appropriated Justice Department funds.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2026
But Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said in a statement to The Bee that the legal expenses more than paid for themselves when the state won back $188 billion in money that Congress had appropriated, but the administration was withholding.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriated
Verb
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The tension spilled into election issues, including accusations that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized ballots in a voter‑fraud investigation, now at the center of a legal fight with the state attorney general.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Photograph courtesy Jennifer Hulse Israel seized control of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank during the Six-Day War, in 1967.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Unidentified trespassers stole the control stick out of an R train while it was parked underground in southern Brooklyn back in December — along a stretch of storage track popular with joyriders and graffiti artists.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
Bregman singled and stole second, and Ian Happ challenged a full-count strike-3 call that was overturned to a walk.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Others were placed under house arrest, harassed or subject to extensive surveillance, or had their passports confiscated, according to prior NPR reporting and the findings of the United Nations and rights groups.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
17 May 2026
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Her family’s money was confiscated; her favorite uncle, Otto, was murdered by the Nazis; shrapnel lodged in Hepburn’s neck, giving it its beguiling tilt.—
Hadley Hall Meares,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Granted, Becerra has had a hard week, with a gaffe with a reporter that went viral and a plea deal by a former aide in that case of money misappropriated from his dormant campaign account.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
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He was also accused of deceiving escrow agents to secure the release of pre-construction condominium deposits and then misappropriated those funds for personal expenses unrelated to the developments.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Verb
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That could impact the situation of Clarke, who outplayed Doughty and usurped his former position on the power play but logged fewer minutes at right defense just the same.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
2 May 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
Verb
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Police announced his arrest earlier this week after two more women survived shootings in 2025, including one who fought back and police say swiped her attacker's cellphone.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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His son had swiped up on us, thanking us for supporting his dad.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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In the rear of the cineplex structure— opened in 2000 and also operated under such brands as Crown and Bow Tie — space would be converted to self-storage.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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The push comes at a moment when Indonesia’s film industry is generating outstanding local box office but hasn’t yet converted that momentum into consistent international breakthrough.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Vegas claimed its fifth regular-season Pacific Division title this year and is now four wins from a third Western Conference championship banner.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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Bianco launched a voter‑fraud investigation after a local group claimed the county counted roughly 46,000 more ballots than were received, a claim election officials rejected.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appropriated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriated. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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