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 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
In addition to the monthly BLS data on jobs and inflation, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a federal agency housed inside the Commerce Department, said Wednesday it is required to suspend operations until Congress appropriates funding for this fiscal year.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
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
In addition to the monthly BLS data on jobs and inflation, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a federal agency housed inside the Commerce Department, said Wednesday it is required to suspend operations until Congress appropriates funding for this fiscal year.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriates
Verb
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Continue reading … MARITIME VICTORY — Coast Guard seizes 22,000 pounds of cocaine in largest bust in 18 years.—
,
FOXNews.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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Unfortunately, though, she’s still possessed by the spirit of Mary Shelley, whose voice seizes her body with tiresome frequency.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tramon Mark steals the ball and lays in a transition bucket to give Texas the lead back after NC State took a one-point edge.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Mar. 2026
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Even worse, the fake Claude Code steals sensitive data like passwords, session cookies, and more, and is very difficult to delete.—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 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
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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 celestial equator is just a projection of Earth’s terrestrial equator onto our sky and occupies the same mathematical plane as Earth’s terrestrial equator.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Nevada, by Imogen Binnie, occupies a similar place in my own literary imagination.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the kitchen, Wells grabs a round of dough resting in semolina flour.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Inspired, Larry grabs a random woman and kisses her on the mouth.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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When the State Department commandeers the West Virginia hotel to house Axis diplomats in the wake of Pearl Harbor, June realizes that nothing will ever be the same again.—
AudioFile Magazine
August 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The court will specifically examine whether the federal Clean Air Act preempts state-law nuisance claims seeking damages from oil and gas companies.—
Taylor Millard,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
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Witt also added that the Legislature often preempts city regulations.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appropriates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriates. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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