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
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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
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
But Huddleston disagreed, saying the charter governs spending money but doesn’t apply to merely appropriating it.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
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
But Huddleston disagreed, saying the charter governs spending money but doesn’t apply to merely appropriating it.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriating
Verb
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In 1940, the German army was invading and seizing one European country after another.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
-
Prosecutors also said the captain received radio calls from cartel members attempting to communicate with the Aquatravesia before boarding or seizing the vessel.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2026
Verb
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The former lawyer was separately convicted in state and federal courts of stealing millions of dollars from his own clients.—
Michael Ruiz , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
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In an overheated, overcrowded Mallorca, three precarious women accidentally kill a tourist while stealing electricity, then drag two more women into the cover-up.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
25 May 2026
Verb
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The influx of travelers translates to a higher probability of TSA confiscating or surrendering restricted items, from pocket knives to perfume.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2026
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The schools claimed this led to staff spending time on confiscating cell phones and other devices, as well as hiring additional staff to support student mental health and counseling.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
23 May 2026
Verb
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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
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Hegseth and Feinberg, Phelan said, had imposed rigid control over submarine and shipbuilding decisions, effectively usurping the Navy’s authority, these people said.—
Dan Lamothe,
Washington Post,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors have theorized that after Mackenzie sped up the car, Dominic and Davion could have tried to stop the crash by grabbing the wheel or gear shift.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
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Consider grabbing a set of packing cubes, which are great for packing for vacation and storing and organizing items at home.—
Paige Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 May 2026
Verb
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According to the company, world models allow robots to simulate real-world physics, terrain behavior, and environmental changes before converting those scenarios into training data.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
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There have been rumblings and indications in the news and by city officials for months that Costco has been planning the switch, but recent city documents offer confirmation and shed more light on what, exactly, the store converting to a business center would mean.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Garcia said while Saint-Hilaire and Negron were friends with each other, reports claiming that Suarez was also friends of both victims were inaccurate.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
23 May 2026
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The football game directive came about a week after Ingoglia held a press conference criticizing Alachua County — where UF’s campus is located — for excessive or wasteful spending to the tune of $84 million over five years, claiming the budget grew by 77%.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appropriating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriating. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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