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
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
The sweeping opinion ran through a list of Israeli practices that the ICJ said violated international law, including confiscating land, building Israeli settlements in the territories, and depriving Palestinians of natural resources and the right to self-determination.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Lower courts initially sided with Jouppi, finding that confiscating an entire airplane over the cases of beer was excessive.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
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
The sweeping opinion ran through a list of Israeli practices that the ICJ said violated international law, including confiscating land, building Israeli settlements in the territories, and depriving Palestinians of natural resources and the right to self-determination.
—Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Lower courts initially sided with Jouppi, finding that confiscating an entire airplane over the cases of beer was excessive.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confiscating
Verb
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Smith noted the task is harder still since the common tactic of attaching a specific bill to must-pass legislation, such as year-end defense spending, is unavailable to the lawmakers pushing the Clarity Act.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
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The waist is adjustable for a custom fit, and there’s an O-ring for attaching keys, gloves or lift tickets.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Ukraine accused Hungary’s pro-Russian government of taking the Ukrainians hostage and illegally seizing millions of dollars in cash.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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The same thing happened in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Newcastle, with O’Brien seizing on Dan Burn’s clearing header.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
6 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 10 Mar. 2026.
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