1
as in seizes
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 steals
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 appropriates
The bill appropriates $495 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
—
Carrie Brandon Elliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The state appropriates within its budget to ensure bond holders know the state has the money, but the state hasn’t had to use that money because the admissions tax and tax district have funded the bond, Huston said.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
The lawsuit argues the freeze violated federal law, including the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional limits on executive power and how Congress appropriates funds.
—Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The state appropriates funds for the voucher program at the beginning of the fiscal year and then seeks federal reimbursement.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
But November's benefits have been disrupted due to a lack of funding deal from Congress, which appropriates the federal funds for the program.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Typically, Congress passes a budget that appropriates money for the next fiscal year to federal agencies.
—Amy Maxmen, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Most legal scholars interpret this to mean that the president’s duty is to spend the money Congress appropriates, and that the president does not have the power to withhold funds.
—Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
Most legal scholars interpret this to mean that the President’s duty is to spend the money Congress appropriates, and that the President does not have the power to withhold funds.
—Andy Kroll, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Carrie Brandon Elliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The state appropriates within its budget to ensure bond holders know the state has the money, but the state hasn’t had to use that money because the admissions tax and tax district have funded the bond, Huston said.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
The lawsuit argues the freeze violated federal law, including the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional limits on executive power and how Congress appropriates funds.
—Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The state appropriates funds for the voucher program at the beginning of the fiscal year and then seeks federal reimbursement.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
But November's benefits have been disrupted due to a lack of funding deal from Congress, which appropriates the federal funds for the program.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Typically, Congress passes a budget that appropriates money for the next fiscal year to federal agencies.
—Amy Maxmen, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Most legal scholars interpret this to mean that the president’s duty is to spend the money Congress appropriates, and that the president does not have the power to withhold funds.
—Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
Most legal scholars interpret this to mean that the President’s duty is to spend the money Congress appropriates, and that the President does not have the power to withhold funds.
—Andy Kroll, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriates
Verb
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Ellie brings up the salad and seizes the opportunity to take credit for her part in making lunch.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
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While Linda seizes, Bradley makes a break for it on a makeshift raft.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 May 2026
Verb
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Their brother, Bill, steals the film as an unstable groundskeeper who is tasked with killing an errant gopher.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
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One of the ostriches steals Turk’s Kangol hat and puts it on.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
26 May 2026
Verb
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The children designated as Palestinians, meanwhile, have their drawings torn up and are relegated to small corners of the classroom while the teacher confiscates their candy.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Nov. 2025
-
Milwaukee Marshall High School confiscates a student’s phone until the end of the day for a first offense, requires a parent pickup after a second offense and issues an automatic suspension for repeat violations.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After witnessing Sinner miss 16 break points against the same opponent on Friday, Alcaraz would have been forgiven for worrying that something similar might happen to him — especially against arguably tennis’s greatest escape artist, at least until the Spaniard usurps him.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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Jokic usurps Nurkic Jusuf Nurkic became Jokic’s first backup center in unceremonious fashion, getting benched by Michael Malone 25 games into his third season.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The swanky, glamour-in-the-sky Shangri-La Hotel occupies 18 floors of The Shard, an architectural feat and Western Europe’s tallest building.—
Laura Manske,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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With tears running down his face, Dillard lit candles and placed posters of his son in front of the supermarket that now occupies the space where El Mula Banquet Hall once stood.—
Nikiya Carrero,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Kennedy then pins the snake’s head and grabs it by the mouth, avoiding any potential venomous bites.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
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Davis grabs two suitcases off the belt, pulls out a handheld computer that looks like an extra-rugged iPad, and scans the bar codes on the luggage tags.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
26 May 2026
Verb
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The service Bjorn commandeers a small team, and often doubles up as bartender, concierge, and sauna turn-oner.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
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In the middle of the stuffy reception, Jenny commandeers the A/V system, blasting punk rock while a squad of models, clad in her early-aughts emo designs, climb on tables.—
Matthew Huff,
Vanity Fair,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Now, Supreme Court justices will weigh in on whether federal pesticide law preempts state-level claims.—
Christiana Freitag,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Last week, a federal judge halted Arizona’s regulatory efforts — which have included criminal charges against Kalshi — finding that the federal commission had demonstrated a reasonable chance of success in showing that the act preempts Arizona law.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appropriates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriates. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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