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 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
However, because capital appropriates the powers of living labor to itself, the distinctiveness of the latter is deeply obscured.
—Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
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
However, because capital appropriates the powers of living labor to itself, the distinctiveness of the latter is deeply obscured.
—Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriates
Verb
-
The Department of Education first resumed the Treasury Offset program, which seizes defaulted borrowers’ federal payments, on May 5, 2025.—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The slender but powerful book takes place over the course of a week, when Ma’s plans are suddenly imperiled while Boomba seizes the chance to make up for his past mistakes and help his family.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Tadd Fujikawa, just shy of his 16th birthday, steals the show at the Sony Open.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Millions are unemployed as AI steals entry-level roles—and experts don’t see the dire situation improving, instead warning that the traditional college-to-office path is forever broken.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The property occupies a sizable 6,868-square-foot lot.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Hisense says cyan occupies a part of the spectrum where the human eye is especially sensitive, allowing the panel to render smoother gradients, more realistic tones and subtler transitions without oversaturation.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But as the ball arrives the defender grabs the jersey with the right hand and pulls the defender down.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
-
As one officer grabs at her door handle, a third officer who had circled to the front of the SUV from the opposite side draws his gun.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) preempts states from enacting laws that conflict with ERISA on regulated benefit plans.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Story editing is a form of self-talk that preempts your under-estimator from seizing control with its bludgeoning feedback.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Appropriates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriates. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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