as in attaching
to take ownership or control of (something) by right of one's authority
anything that might be used as a weapon will be confiscated by the security guards
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Recent Examples of confiscating
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
At the same time, CBP reported a surge in drug seizures after agents confiscating more than 79,000 pounds of narcotics nationwide last month, the highest monthly total since October 2021.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Now the city wants more tools to expand its limited enforcement options, which would start with warnings, then fines and may include confiscating food, equipment and carts found in violation of city ordinance and health codes.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Video of the incident shows a CBP officer confiscating the handgun shortly before other agents shot Pretti multiple times, killing him.
—Paul Kiefer, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Security forces are conducting door-to-door searches, confiscating satellite dishes to identify protesters.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
After confiscating the device, officials downloaded its data to look at the GPS locations of where the drone had been.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
Jewish settlers arriving from Europe are confiscating more and more of their land, enabled and protected by the British administrators of the region.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
In the five years from 2020 to June 2025 alone, authorities made 765 seizures, confiscating the equivalent of 573 tigers, roughly nine a month over 66 months.
—Eileen Ng, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
At the same time, CBP reported a surge in drug seizures after agents confiscating more than 79,000 pounds of narcotics nationwide last month, the highest monthly total since October 2021.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Now the city wants more tools to expand its limited enforcement options, which would start with warnings, then fines and may include confiscating food, equipment and carts found in violation of city ordinance and health codes.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Video of the incident shows a CBP officer confiscating the handgun shortly before other agents shot Pretti multiple times, killing him.
—Paul Kiefer, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Security forces are conducting door-to-door searches, confiscating satellite dishes to identify protesters.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
After confiscating the device, officials downloaded its data to look at the GPS locations of where the drone had been.
—Laura Romero, ABC News, 12 Dec. 2025
Jewish settlers arriving from Europe are confiscating more and more of their land, enabled and protected by the British administrators of the region.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025
In the five years from 2020 to June 2025 alone, authorities made 765 seizures, confiscating the equivalent of 573 tigers, roughly nine a month over 66 months.
—Eileen Ng, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confiscating
Verb
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Sports built confidence without attaching identity to performance.—
Mark J. Friedlander,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Mar. 2026
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Follow the plant's natural upward growth pattern and avoid attaching vines in a way that stretches or pulls.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Behind the scenes, Rajner was an in-your-face advocate, seizing every opportunity — in corridors, elevators, even restrooms — to press the issue and keep it in front of Republican and Democratic lawmakers.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
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Gil Messing, the Chief of Staff of Check Point, an Israeli cybersecurity company, said the FBI seizing the Handala site would help combat the perception of Iran’s cyber ability.—
Kevin Collier,
NBC news,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In his view, the administration is effectively expropriating the decision-making power of owners and handing it to the state.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some residents have accused the police of sequestering fuel supplies, according to local media.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
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The continent is home to 60% of the planet’s uncultivated arable land that is capable of sequestering immense amounts of carbon—yet only 16% of the global carbon credits market.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confiscating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confiscating. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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