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
Some of today’s most ubiquitous beauty trends were started by Latinas, appropriated by white mainstream audiences, and rebranded into something that only sounds new.
—
Sofía Viera, Allure, 10 Oct. 2025
In addition, time has expired for spending money previously appropriated by Congress, so for all practical purposes, not only is the money gone, so too are the programs that the money was meant to fund.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025
The Antideficiency Act, first passed in 1870, forbids the federal government from spending money not appropriated by Congress, and guides much of what the federal government can and can’t do during a shutdown.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Government funding has been appropriated this way for the past nine fiscal years, with Congress cramming 108 spending measures into 13 bills.
—Lazaro Gamio, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Park funding is appropriated by Congress, leaving the park system vulnerable if lawmakers can’t reach a deal.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
As much as labor-power can be exploited, it cannot be entirely appropriated and absorbed by capital—even when the laborer is chattel property.
—Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
No state agency is allowed to divert or spend money that was appropriated for a certain purpose.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 22 Sep. 2025
The Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional the line-item veto in 1998, by which former President Bill Clinton unilaterally refused to spend money appropriated for particular purposes.
—Kevin R. Kosar, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Sofía Viera, Allure, 10 Oct. 2025
In addition, time has expired for spending money previously appropriated by Congress, so for all practical purposes, not only is the money gone, so too are the programs that the money was meant to fund.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025
The Antideficiency Act, first passed in 1870, forbids the federal government from spending money not appropriated by Congress, and guides much of what the federal government can and can’t do during a shutdown.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Government funding has been appropriated this way for the past nine fiscal years, with Congress cramming 108 spending measures into 13 bills.
—Lazaro Gamio, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Park funding is appropriated by Congress, leaving the park system vulnerable if lawmakers can’t reach a deal.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
As much as labor-power can be exploited, it cannot be entirely appropriated and absorbed by capital—even when the laborer is chattel property.
—Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
No state agency is allowed to divert or spend money that was appropriated for a certain purpose.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 22 Sep. 2025
The Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional the line-item veto in 1998, by which former President Bill Clinton unilaterally refused to spend money appropriated for particular purposes.
—Kevin R. Kosar, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriated
Verb
-
In Gaza, the same preparations were being made to receive 250 Palestinian prisoners convicted of serious crimes, and 1,700 who were seized by Israel during the war and held without charge, including 22 children.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Israel is to free some 250 Palestinians serving prison sentences, as well as around 1,700 people seized from Gaza the past two years and held without charge.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
An Air Force veteran stole North Carolina military members’ identities to steal rental cars and ship them to Africa and rent apartments and repost them on Airbnb, according to federal court documents.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Oct. 2025
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The incident began at Dick's Sports Goods in Chambersburg, where Foy and two others, Amir Swift, 21, and Giani Jaida McGowan, 21, allegedly stole over $1,000 worth of merchandise from the store.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In his work recovering brands that hold emotional and nostalgic value for Cubans — many of which were created by businesses confiscated by the Cuban regime after 1959 — Haber has just launched Guayabita del Pinar in Miami.—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
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Nonetheless, the team was stopped and arrested briefly, the camera confiscated.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In early August, for example, NABU and SAPO exposed a criminal group of political, military, and business figures that had misappropriated funds allocated by local authorities for the purchase of drones and electronic warfare systems.—
DARIA KALENIUK,
Foreign Affairs,
3 Sep. 2025
-
She is also accused of misappropriated the victim’s money at least 45 times from June 2021 through November 2022, Gerace added.—
Fox19 staff,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As Craigslist, Google, and Facebook usurped most of what newspapers counted on for ad revenue, my beloved industry cratered in all but the urban power centers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
New York City has its Empire State Building, the iconic skyscraper from atop which King Kong swiped at attacking biplanes in the 1933 film before hurtling to his demise.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
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After a brief scuffle between the two players, Noel held on to the ball, though Alexander swiped his hand at him in frustration as tensions rose.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Southwest then successfully converted a two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 11 points.—
Raul Avila,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Around that time, Associated Grocers Wholesale purchased several stores and converted some into Price Choppers.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Islamabad has not officially claimed responsibility for the attacks.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Lockheed Martin’s PrSM technology is claimed to be mature, proven, affordable, and low-risk.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Appropriated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriated. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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