Definition of dispossessnext
as in to evict
to end the occupancy or possession of opponents of gentrification claim that the process unfairly dispossesses poorer residents of their long-established homes

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of dispossess Calling his father and uncle gusanos — or worms, a Spanish-language term coined by Castro to denigrate those fleeing the island — the agent seized the bank and in an instant dispossessed a family that arrived from Spain in the 16th century. Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026 Calling his father and uncle gusanos — or worms, a Spanish-language term coined by Castro to denigrate those fleeing the island — the agent seized the bank and, in an instant, dispossessed a family that arrived from Spain in the 16th century. CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 Their destruction was also a central part of the federal campaign to subdue and dispossess tribal nations. Tyson Running Wolf, Denver Post, 25 Mar. 2026 The growth of colonial Australian society came at the expense of the Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who were often dispossessed of their land, exposed to foreign diseases, and either pushed into marginal areas or forcibly assimilated into European culture. Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dispossess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispossess
Verb
  • In a recent ruling, a Cabarrus County magistrate granted the Mall at Concord Mills Limited Partnership the right to evict EZ Purchase LLC, doing business as Go Green CBD for unpaid rent.
    Catherine Muccigrosso July 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026
  • Most recently, of course, Sandringham became the new home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, after King Charles spearheaded efforts to evict his disgraced brother from Royal Lodge.
    Emma Banks, InStyle, 12 July 2026
Verb
  • Khalil’s lawyers, citing the law, argue government officials are prohibited from collaborating with private individuals in ways that deprive citizens of their constitutional rights.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2026
  • Researchers have argued that allowing private buyers to own such specimens deprives paleontologists the opportunity to study them.
    Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 14 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dispossess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispossess. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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