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
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Recent Examples of appropriating
In 2021, the Minnetonka shoe company apologized for culturally appropriating Native American culture, and committed to supporting the community.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
At first glance, the pairing might seem like an unconventional one, even though both artists are well known for appropriating others’ images.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026
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
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
At first glance, the pairing might seem like an unconventional one, even though both artists are well known for appropriating others’ images.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriating
Verb
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Syrian authorities regularly boast of seizing weapons headed for Lebanon.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
-
Still, seizing ships doesn’t seem like a very effective way to fill the Treasury’s coffers, and embracing freebooting carries risks besides financial ones.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Masked suspects were caught on surveillance cameras leaping over display cases at The Card Lab in Brentwood on Saturday night and stealing $15,000 worth of Pokémon cards in under 40 seconds, police said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
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Last Friday, three men who were convicted of stealing priceless golden artifacts from the Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands were sentenced to serve 47 months apiece in prison.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
9 June 2026
Verb
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As Israeli authorities begin confiscating their land, personal tensions collide with political pressure.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
8 June 2026
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In New York state social studies classes, communism and socialism are presented as two economic systems that make things more equal and fair, with no historical references to the atrocities committed by socialist and communist regimes confiscating property.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The opposition’s narrative that Hollywood is usurping home rule is entirely backward.—
Keith Poliakoff,
Sun Sentinel,
1 June 2026
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But even with the UFC’s challenges, no rival promotion has come close to usurping the sport’s power dynamic.—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Verb
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The suspects asked if Apple Pay was accepted before grabbing a box of cash.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
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Jose Alvarado also got physical in Game 4, grabbing one of Wembanyama's legs during a hard foul.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The vice president’s new book, which will be released on June 16, explores Vance’s religious journey to converting to Catholicism.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
11 June 2026
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The city and a group of developers have also joined together to kick off the LaSalle Street Corridor Revitalization, converting obsolete Loop offices near the Thompson Center into residences and hotel rooms.—
Brian J. Rogal,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The litigation continued through 2025 and into 2026, with both sides claiming victories at various stages.—
Janelle Ash , Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
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Tyra Banks has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, claiming she was defamed in the recent America’s Next Top Model docuseries Reality Check.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appropriating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriating. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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