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
His aides have pulled back funds appropriated by lawmakers, who constitutionally control federal purse strings.
—
Npr Staff, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026
The funds at issue are appropriated by Congress.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
The fact that there is no longer a single budget bill, and that money is appropriated 365 days a year, has removed all seriousness in dealing with California’s precarious financial position.
—Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026
The budget document noted that between 2019 and the current fiscal year, California appropriated $45 million toward improving the state’s recruitment systems, professional development offerings and data privacy protections.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Now, that motif was appropriated from the western regions on the Silk Road.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
Nero’s successor Vespasian commissioned the stadium to be built on the site of Nero’s pleasure gardens, the Domus Aurea, in part to return to citizens land that Nero had appropriated for his personal use.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Money will be deducted from state comptroller funds and money appropriated by the Indiana General Assembly, and funds will be withheld for 10 years.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Funds for the team come from dollars appropriated to the councilman’s district.
—City News Service, Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Npr Staff, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026
The funds at issue are appropriated by Congress.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
The fact that there is no longer a single budget bill, and that money is appropriated 365 days a year, has removed all seriousness in dealing with California’s precarious financial position.
—Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 18 Jan. 2026
The budget document noted that between 2019 and the current fiscal year, California appropriated $45 million toward improving the state’s recruitment systems, professional development offerings and data privacy protections.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Now, that motif was appropriated from the western regions on the Silk Road.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
Nero’s successor Vespasian commissioned the stadium to be built on the site of Nero’s pleasure gardens, the Domus Aurea, in part to return to citizens land that Nero had appropriated for his personal use.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Money will be deducted from state comptroller funds and money appropriated by the Indiana General Assembly, and funds will be withheld for 10 years.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Funds for the team come from dollars appropriated to the councilman’s district.
—City News Service, Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriated
Verb
-
How populists named what the centre wouldn't Marine Le Pen seized on the contradiction immediately.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
During the search, authorities seized two rifles, two shotguns and one handgun, along with ammunition, prosecutors said.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The sentencing follows a year in which mostly Chinese scammers stole a record $17 billion from regular people.—
Carlos Garcia,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
-
What settler stole this sacred land and is now charging me for these healing waters?—
Gaby Iori
January 27,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
French authorities confiscated the cocaine.—
Jay Weaver
January 8,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
While raising the kids together, Ruby and Hildebrandt abused the two youngest children with harsh punishments and torture, according to Ruby's journal that was later confiscated.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The alligator is a symbol that is being misappropriated as a predator, but it’s known as a sacred guardian in the Everglades.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Dec. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
And though preseason predictions pegged Marty Supreme as Gwyneth Paltrow’s big Oscar comeback, Odessa A’zion’s performance as a girlfriend with gumption has usurped the Goopster’s buzz.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Trump has usurped Capitol Hill's Constitutional powers on spending money and waging war.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sophomore forward Billy Richmond III swiped the ball away from sophomore guard Christian Anderson, tumbled to the floor and passed ahead to Acuff, who completed a three-point play after he was fouled by Lejuan Watts on the layup.—
Matt Byrne,
Arkansas Online,
13 Dec. 2025
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At the end of last week’s episode, the ladies’ investigation reached a real breakthrough when Julian swiped a cache of information related to Jacobson-Moore’s Australia retreat.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Guard Kylie Ray converted seven of eight free throw attempts in the final minute to lead the Toreros to a 69-60 victory over Loyola Marymount in a West Coast Conference game at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Jan. 2026
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Denver barely won because the Bills converted 11 of 16 attempts on third and fourth down.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The5Krunner has also claimed wearables commentator DC Rainmaker may be currently testing the device.—
Andrew Williams,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The authors never claimed to have demonstrated that such reading generates feelings of empathy, though others—including the New York Times—have sometimes confused those high scores as evidence of empathy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appropriated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriated. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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