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
But all of those ideas for spending or tax rebates, again, all of those are congressional authority that the president is arrogating to himself—something else that would have startled the founders of the country all those 250 years ago.
—
David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
Like Mao and Deng before him, Xi Jinping has arrogated to himself great power.
—Joseph Torigian, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025
Politicians exist to spend, and Congress arrogated to itself what was left over after existing Social Security recipients were paid.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Trump arrogated to himself the authority to impose sweeping tariffs on the entire world, a power that properly belongs to Congress, and has caused turmoil throughout the economy; many economic indicators are now pointing in the wrong direction.
—The Editors, National Review, 29 Apr. 2025
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
David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
Like Mao and Deng before him, Xi Jinping has arrogated to himself great power.
—Joseph Torigian, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025
Politicians exist to spend, and Congress arrogated to itself what was left over after existing Social Security recipients were paid.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Trump arrogated to himself the authority to impose sweeping tariffs on the entire world, a power that properly belongs to Congress, and has caused turmoil throughout the economy; many economic indicators are now pointing in the wrong direction.
—The Editors, National Review, 29 Apr. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arrogate
Verb
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Venezuela seized Exxon's and Conoco's assets in 2007, and Caracas owes the companies billions of dollars in outstanding claims from arbitration cases.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
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Hannah Natanson, who covers the federal government, was at home when the FBI searched the property and her devices, seizing a phone, Garmin watch and both a personal and work laptop, according to the news organization.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Vintage fiberglass end chairs and a pair of cushy benches usurped the traditional dining set.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
12 Jan. 2026
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Allowing the programs to lapse further would create unintended—and unwelcome—opportunities for foreign adversaries, which could usurp America’s influence in both regions, Murphy wrote.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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French authorities confiscated the cocaine.—
Jay Weaver
January 8,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
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While raising the kids together, Ruby and Hildebrandt abused the two youngest children with harsh punishments and torture, according to Ruby's journal that was later confiscated.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Start your very own love affair with Outcrease Retinol Trifecta Serum by grabbing a bottle today, and check out some of Dermelect’s other skin correcting serums and facial oils below.—
Michelle Baricevic,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
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Madison outrebounded Point Loma 36-24, with Stevens grabbing seven and Moore five.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The final part of the dormancy evolution puzzle is what ecologists refer to as the ecological niche a species occupies — the specific set of conditions that species evolved to exploit or the conditions under which that species is likely to be more successful when compared to other species.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
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Inside, authorities found fresh groceries, animals, and other signs that people are actively occupying some of the units.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cu also disputed prosecutors’ claims that the defendants caused up to $300,000 in damage.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
10 Jan. 2026
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At the heart of the discussion was a dispute over the legitimacy of a report that claimed Deerfield Beach would save millions of dollars by creating its own independent police and fire rescue operations.—
Carlton Gillespie,
Miami Herald,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arrogate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arrogate. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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