as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
arrogated the corner office without obtaining prior approval
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Recent Examples of arrogate
Disney arrogates those traits, skills, and experiences, essentially using modern female ideals to challenge traditional masculine ideals.
—
Armond White, National Review, 4 Dec. 2024
Back before the federal government arrogated to itself an outsize role as financier of college education, the Wayne States of the world were where ambitious people who didn’t have a lot of money, who wanted to save money on college, or both, got their degrees.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024
In every period, the essence of politics has been that a tin-pot tsar who wants to arrogate to himself the right to personal, unaccountable power needs to intimidate the honest people who are not afraid of him.
—Alexei Navalny, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024
The Bibi Files uses a mix of talking-head history and in-the-room vérité to paint its picture of a leader who has arrogated power for corrupt and self-interested reasons — the allegations are of some $250,000 in gifts received in exchange for political favors — to his country’s detriment.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Instead of deferring to the people’s representatives, as the Founders intended, today originalists on the Supreme Court have arrogated power to themselves.
—Saul Cornell / Made By History, TIME, 26 July 2024
The crescendo to this assault on expertise landed in June, when the majority’s Chevron decision arrogated to the courts regulatory calls that have been made by civil servant scientists, physicians and lawyers for the last 40 years.
—The Editors, Scientific American, 10 July 2024
The institution of the caliphate, now arrogated to themselves by the Umayyads, was thus transformed into arbitrary hereditary rule.
—Mohammed Ayoob, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2016
So why is his agency now arrogating to itself vast new regulatory power?
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 11 Oct. 2023
Armond White, National Review, 4 Dec. 2024
Back before the federal government arrogated to itself an outsize role as financier of college education, the Wayne States of the world were where ambitious people who didn’t have a lot of money, who wanted to save money on college, or both, got their degrees.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024
In every period, the essence of politics has been that a tin-pot tsar who wants to arrogate to himself the right to personal, unaccountable power needs to intimidate the honest people who are not afraid of him.
—Alexei Navalny, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024
The Bibi Files uses a mix of talking-head history and in-the-room vérité to paint its picture of a leader who has arrogated power for corrupt and self-interested reasons — the allegations are of some $250,000 in gifts received in exchange for political favors — to his country’s detriment.
—Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Instead of deferring to the people’s representatives, as the Founders intended, today originalists on the Supreme Court have arrogated power to themselves.
—Saul Cornell / Made By History, TIME, 26 July 2024
The crescendo to this assault on expertise landed in June, when the majority’s Chevron decision arrogated to the courts regulatory calls that have been made by civil servant scientists, physicians and lawyers for the last 40 years.
—The Editors, Scientific American, 10 July 2024
The institution of the caliphate, now arrogated to themselves by the Umayyads, was thus transformed into arbitrary hereditary rule.
—Mohammed Ayoob, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2016
So why is his agency now arrogating to itself vast new regulatory power?
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 11 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arrogate
Verb
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These results suggest that media-savvy Democrats who seize this moment to call out Trump and the MAGA agenda could put themselves in a strong position to become the next leader of the Democratic Party.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
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This shift could unlock massive opportunities for entrepreneurs who are bold enough to act, smart enough to wait for clarity, and strategic enough to seize the moment.—
Dileep Rao,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The movie takes place in 1957, when Genovese is jealous of Costello’s power and influence and wants to usurp him as the big boss in New York.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
TIME,
20 Mar. 2025
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The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, claims OPM is usurping congressional authority.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Then, in 2010, the bank where the chips were stored confiscated the chips after opening the deposit box.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
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The animals were confiscated and given to multiple wildlife agencies for care, according to the post.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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At one point, police said, the couple stopped and became involved in a verbal altercation, and the man allegedly grabbed her by the neck and strangled her.—
Kristen Taketa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Mar. 2025
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The teacher showed up unannounced at the student's home on Wednesday and requested that the child grab the missing homework assignment, the family said.—
Landon Mion,
Fox News,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Last spring, Harvard students protesting Israel's retaliatory attacks on Gaza occupied the university's central courtyard for 20 days and staged a 24-hour sit-in in another building.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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The Israeli Defense Forces now claim to occupy some 30% of Gaza territory.—
Lucien Bruggeman,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The growth trajectory represents a 2.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025, with online video claiming the lion’s share at $9.4 billion.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
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Tornado Cash is comprised of immutable smart contracts and an optional user interface with enhanced privacy features, which the DOJ claims the developers controlled.—
Andrea Tinianow,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Arrogate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arrogate. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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