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
Relevance
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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Trump seizes America’s 250th-birthday spotlight, headlining the Great American State Fair, hosting a UFC bout at the White House and promoting new passports, $250 bills and coins bearing his image.
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Ellie brings up the salad and seizes the opportunity to take credit for her part in making lunch.
Verb
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John Krasinski stars as a jet-setting art thief who steals priceless paintings to help uncover clues as to the whereabouts of the fabled Fountain of Youth.
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Carr is not a point-of-attack defender, gets beat in isolation and doesn’t collect nearly as many steals for a player with his physical gifts.
Verb
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Unlike most other states, California has its own inspection-and-approval system for fireworks, and confiscates those failing standards.
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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.
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.
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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.
Verb
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Damage from the campaign has been felt most acutely in Crimea, the four regions Russia occupies in Ukraine, the areas that border Ukraine, and, perhaps most notably, Moscow.
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Booking Office 1869 occupies the old ticket hall and the hotel also contains a spa and indoor pool.
Verb
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What actually cuts through and grabs attention nowadays is humanity, clarity and credibility in messaging.
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When Martinez throws something back, the woman rushes toward her, throws her to the ground, grabs her by the hair and repeatedly attacks her as bystanders try to step in and help.
Verb
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An exciting scene ramps up the action as Castle commandeers a German tank and drives it over a cliff.
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The service Bjorn commandeers a small team, and often doubles up as bartender, concierge, and sauna turn-oner.
Verb
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The court held that federal pesticide law preempts a state failure-to-warn claim when the Environmental Protection Agency has not required a cancer warning on the product label.
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The Justice wrote in a 7-2 opinion written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act expressly preempts state law and Monsanto's failure to warn consumers about the dangers of glyphosate.
Cite this Entry
“Appropriates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriates. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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