APPROPRIATED Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

appropriated

verb

past tense of appropriate

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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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 Some anti-hate groups view the use of the nose emoji as antisemitic, while goy is a term that has been appropriated by those who espouse antisemitic views. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 And this year, the Legislature appropriated $29 million to speed up counting much more. — Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 Congress appropriated the money for the ads for immigration enforcement. — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriated

Verb

The latest conflict between the Saudis and the Houthis began last month after the rebels seized key areas along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical waterway for oil shipments.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Another Renoir, a Cézanne and a Matisse were taken from the Magnani Rocca Foundation near Parma, Italy, in March (and also later recovered), while four Renaissance paintings by Antonello da Messina were seized from a Sicilian museum in August.

— Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of seized

Verb

Deputies said that the men stole roughly $3,330 worth of diesel as fuel prices reached all-time highs.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Her boyfriend Tom Arnold becomes a writer/producer and complains that someone there stole his love letters and sold out his steamy relationship with Roseanne to the National Enquirer.

— Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 15 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

The thefts attracted attention in September partly because of how easily the artworks appeared to have been swiped.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Just moments prior, Link had swiped some of Jo’s old pain meds as his addiction issues seem to only be getting bigger.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of swiped

Verb

Monaco was guaranteed to retain first place with a win, but host Lorient won thanks to a 61st-minute penalty kick converted by Noah Cadiou.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
On the other side, Ole Miss converted nine of its 14 third downs, led by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss’ 255 total yards and four TDs.

— PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of converted

Verb

There are believed to be two adult owls, and some photographers have claimed to have seen six fledglings, Barrett added.

— JOSEPH FREDERICK, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
The fake message, shared alongside images of Fox and an older photograph of the former couple, claimed Kelly was devastated by the breakup and blamed himself for losing her.

— Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of claimed

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appropriate

appropriated

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“Appropriated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriated. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of appropriated

verb

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