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 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
Because the fee revenue is appropriated by Congress and most of it is not considered mandatory spending, TSA does not have control of the money.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, the president has embarked on a plan to renovate the center, after Congress appropriated $257 million in funds as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
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
Because the fee revenue is appropriated by Congress and most of it is not considered mandatory spending, TSA does not have control of the money.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, the president has embarked on a plan to renovate the center, after Congress appropriated $257 million in funds as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriated
Verb
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In October, the DEA Los Angeles Field Division found 628,000 pills containing carfentanil, while in September, officials seized more than 50,000 counterfeit M30 pills from a person at a gas station in Washington state that turned out to be a mixture of carfentanil and acetaminophen.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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The West Metro Drug Task Force has arrested a man and seized a large quantity of drugs following a months-long investigation dating back to November.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The guava version is a classic, but the chocolate croissant stole the show.—
Tristan Graziano,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Authorities announced charges against another man from whom the shooter allegedly stole the gun used to carry out the shooting, and that man was legally banned from possessing guns because of a past felony.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That same year, his Brazilian and Spanish passports were confiscated due to the unpaid fines and taxes, per ESPN.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
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Officers also confiscated a knife that is believed to have been used in the altercation.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After Lourenco took over as president, his administration estimated that at least $24 billion was stolen or misappropriated by dos Santos.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
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Allard said police allege that more than $39,000 collected through the cash wheel was misappropriated and never went to any local sports.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
-
In other words, the apparatus that became the modern movie camera, up until digital technology usurped the role that film cameras played in capturing the first 100 years of filmmaking.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Warnings pile up In 2018, a neighbor said she was lured to Guzman’s backyard in Omaha, where Guzman swiped at the neighbor’s neck with a knife, according to the woman’s affidavit.—
Selina Guevara,
NBC news,
19 Apr. 2026
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Replays showed while still lying on the court, Ball’s left hand swiped at Adebeyao’s right foot.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The rocket will launch from a 532-foot (162-meter) long, 131-foot (40-meter) wide barge, the Dong Fang Hang Tian Gang, which has been specially converted for the purpose.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
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Orbán, replacing Hungary’s liberal constitutional system with a centralized executive model, converted Fidesz’s moral vision into the organizing principle of the state.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In that litigation, which has to do with the withholding of records in the case, a deputy city attorney and a San Diego police captain claimed on March 16 that the incident was still under review by the district attorney’s office for potential prosecution of the involved officers.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Andrews claimed that the financier was abusive.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appropriated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriated. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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