appropriated

verb

past tense of appropriate
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

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 appropriated Chicago Public Schools should fight for every dollar Springfield owes us, while refusing to make promises to families based on money that has not actually been appropriated. — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 The deep state had appropriated their opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood, redeploying it as justification for the massacre. — Abdelrahman Elgendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026 Some Democrats in Congress are now calling for investigations into whether money appropriated for border protection is being used to promote the president’s political message. — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026 The president responded by saying his administration wouldn't spend the $257 million appropriated by Congress on renovating the building unless the building also bears his name. — Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026 Congress has already appropriated nearly $257 million toward these repairs and other needs. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 17 Sep. 2026 Congress last year appropriated more than $250 million for the restoration. — Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026 Congress last year appropriated $257 million for the renovation. — Devin Garbitt, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 Congress appropriated over $250 million for renovations to the Kennedy Center in 2025. — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriated
  1. seized
  2. stole
  3. confiscated
  4. misappropriated
  5. usurped
  6. swiped
  7. converted
  8. claimed
Verb
  • Meanwhile in 2023, the company seized the opportunity to launch on TikTok Shop with select brands shortly after the platform’s Stateside debut, and has since continued to innovate there through live-selling and cutting-edge creator partnerships.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The filing cites items that were seized from her home in a federal investigation with no assurance that they will be returned, as well as unauthorized people who gained access to her Los Angeles residence.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of seized
Verb
  • While the 28-year-old hit 19 homers and stole 41 bases, his 98 wRC+ ranked 14th among qualified second basemen.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Someone stole the entrance sign at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula during the weekend, and park officials are asking for its return.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of stole
Verb
  • Walker says another goal is getting confiscated turtles back to the wild, but as Kung notes, smugglers commingle different turtles, spreading diseases that must be kept out of wild populations.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Those numbers include 759 false identification cards confiscated, 378 alcohol-possession-by-a-minor violations and 98 fake-ID citations during the calendar-year reporting period, according to Oxford Police.
    — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of confiscated
Verb
  • Court findings, shared in 2025, showed that nearly 72% of the sheriff’s office spending was misattributed or misappropriated.
    — Yana Kunichoff, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2026
  • That’s one reason there are so many arguments over the value of a team, or an athlete, or sports more generally, as more and more money chases something essentially priceless—or misappropriated, depending on your view.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of misappropriated
Verb
  • But by the end of the movie, Verity is dead and her publishing empire has been usurped by her ghostwriter.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Oct. 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
Definition of usurped
Verb
  • Two days later, Reese swiped at the ball in Clark’s hands after Clark was fouled, prompting the longtime rivals to exchange words.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • And Hawaii is enduring hurricane fatigue after Lala, Lowell and Nolo all swiped by the island chain with heavy rain and strong winds.
    — Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of swiped
Verb
  • After Riley’s 72-yard touchdown on Boise State’s first drive against Fresno State, the Broncos immediately ran a two-point play that sophomore running back Zeke Martinez converted to take an 8-7 lead.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The 21,000-square-foot property has eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a two-bedroom guest cottage, and a ballroom that’s been converted into a game room and home theater.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of converted
Verb
  • Regardless of these details, the results rather accurately reproduced the chaos in the brain so many researchers claimed psychedelics caused.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks earlier in the week on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed three Saudis, including a pilot.
    — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of claimed

Browse Nearby Words

appropriate
appropriated
appropriately
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Cite this Entry

“Appropriated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriated. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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