1
as in seizing
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 stealing
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of appropriating
The Legislature is appropriating $5 million in one-time funding to put toward the fund.
—
Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2026
During Akbar’s conquest of the Malwa region in India, Adham Khan was accused of under-reporting the spoils of the war and appropriating much of it for his own use.
—Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
On Friday, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee announced the City Council had passed a resolution appropriating up to $900,000 in grant funding to restore the Police Department's cadet program in an effort to boost recruiting numbers.
—Brad Hamilton, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Unlike war powers resolutions, which in this case would limit military action after the fact, new spending cannot occur until Congress writes and passes legislation appropriating additional funds.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2026
The Salesman was a story about a woman attacked as a metaphor for a blindsided country, the director brilliantly re-appropriating the ultimate American drama Death of a Salesman to make the point.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
When that happened in 2007, Chevron entered a deal to continue operating in the country, but ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil departed, accusing the Venezuelan government of unfairly appropriating billions in assets.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
But Huddleston disagreed, saying the charter governs spending money but doesn’t apply to merely appropriating it.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
Trump expressly declared that appropriating Venezuela’s enormous oil reserves justified regime change.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2026
During Akbar’s conquest of the Malwa region in India, Adham Khan was accused of under-reporting the spoils of the war and appropriating much of it for his own use.
—Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
On Friday, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee announced the City Council had passed a resolution appropriating up to $900,000 in grant funding to restore the Police Department's cadet program in an effort to boost recruiting numbers.
—Brad Hamilton, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Unlike war powers resolutions, which in this case would limit military action after the fact, new spending cannot occur until Congress writes and passes legislation appropriating additional funds.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2026
The Salesman was a story about a woman attacked as a metaphor for a blindsided country, the director brilliantly re-appropriating the ultimate American drama Death of a Salesman to make the point.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
When that happened in 2007, Chevron entered a deal to continue operating in the country, but ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil departed, accusing the Venezuelan government of unfairly appropriating billions in assets.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
But Huddleston disagreed, saying the charter governs spending money but doesn’t apply to merely appropriating it.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
Trump expressly declared that appropriating Venezuela’s enormous oil reserves justified regime change.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriating
Verb
-
That’s not currently the case with José Caballero, a career utilityman, seizing his shot to start at shortstop over the past few weeks.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
3 May 2026
-
Unlike Friday’s Oaks, where Ortiz had Always a Runner near the leaders before taking charge through the final turn and soaring past Meaning for a 1 1/4-length win, seizing the Derby required everything from jockey and mount.—
Gary B. Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Officials say the ring targeted vulnerable residents by forging documents, stealing personal information about the real owners and arranging the sales of the properties.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
There's a long way to go before the season gets here and stealing the spotlight on Thursday night during the draft doesn’t guarantee anything.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The sisters’ mother, Vesta Louis, told Politico this week that federal investigators raided both of their homes in simultaneous operations on March 23, confiscating their cellphones and other electronics.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Apr. 2026
-
While Tehran is being bombarded, the regime’s security forces have been stationed at checkpoints across the city, searching civilians and confiscating their phones.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One wonders how long the citizens of those communities are going to put up with the state usurping their authority to govern themselves.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
-
One of the things that's gone really wrong in America is this gas station/convenience store/fast food restaurant that is usurping small town America.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There’s also significant doubt among Republicans as to whether DeSantis will even accomplish the goal of grabbing at least four more seats.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
-
The shortage started grabbing headlines early last month.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
While some of the designs online vary, essentially a bed will come down from the ceiling on top of the couch on a conveyor belt system, converting the space, according to Ori’s website.—
Desiree Mathurin
April 30,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
-
With the latest update, S0 now integrates visual input from onboard stereo cameras, converting RGB images into a 3D spatial representation of the surroundings.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Many researchers, clinicians and patient advocates soon rushed to RP1’s defense, claiming that the FDA had made a mistake in its rejection.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
2 May 2026
-
Horses peek out from their stalls, a would-be Derby winner sharing space with an anonymous claiming horse.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appropriating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriating. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
