1
as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
dissidents were shot, and their lands expropriated under his regime
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to evict
to end the occupancy or possession of
the state will have to expropriate scores of homeowners in order to build the new road
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to confiscate
to take ownership or control of (something) by right of one's authority
plans by the city to expropriate entire blocks of houses in order to bulldoze them for expansion of the airport
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expropriate
From the fourteenth century onward, Ottoman sultans regularly expropriated their subjects, including merchants, soldiers, and state officials.
—
Timur Kuran, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2017
Castillo at one time threatened to expropriate mining concessions and Petro has pledged to halt oil and coal investment and exploration in a unilateral bid to address climate change.
—Christopher Sabatini, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2022
Market value was preponderant in determining the value of the piece of land that the state deemed worthy of expropriating.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025
Nor has any land been expropriated without compensation.
—Lauren Kent, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expropriate
Timur Kuran, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2017
Castillo at one time threatened to expropriate mining concessions and Petro has pledged to halt oil and coal investment and exploration in a unilateral bid to address climate change.
—Christopher Sabatini, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2022
Market value was preponderant in determining the value of the piece of land that the state deemed worthy of expropriating.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2025
Nor has any land been expropriated without compensation.
—Lauren Kent, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expropriate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expropriate
Verb
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This time, the case moved forward alongside multiple simultaneous investigations and cases in other states, and in 2018, the federal government seized Backpage and it was taken down.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
11 May 2025
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The White House, with Vice President JD Vance’s experience in tech, should seize this moment to build a national AI strategy that does not leave the workers behind.—
Lynn Forester de Rothschild,
Time,
11 May 2025
Verb
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These ordinances are meant to keep neighborhoods safe by evicting dangerous criminals.—
Sidnee King Pineda,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
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Two people were arrested at a residence in Killingly on Monday after the property owner alleged that he was assaulted and threatened after finding the two men inside the home despite being evicted.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
7 May 2025
Verb
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Our families could be dishonored in public, our personal memories confiscated for storage inside the Criminal Archives.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
13 May 2025
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But white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa.—
Shannon K. Kingston,
ABC News,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Wing-backs James McClean and Ryan Barnett were first choice for much of the campaign before January arrival Ryan Longman eventually usurped Barnett down the right flank.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
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After years of gradually usurping many forms of legacy media, podcasts are set to get their flowers on one of Hollywood’s biggest nights.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 May 2025
Verb
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Tapper believes that the effort of family and his longtime staff members to hide Biden’s condition deprived the Democratic Party of the chance to determine if its chances were better with another candidate, who would have benefited from more time to mount a campaign against Trump.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2025
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Sixteen Penn swimmers anonymously signed a letter claiming that Thomas' participation deprived them of fair opportunities.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
Verb
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The ‘Turkey Brothers’ steal the encore with a boisterous jam As fans begged for an encore to an empty stage, an unlikely guest took center stage.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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Mike gets into a brawl when Nathan (Dickinson, uncredited), a fellow addict also living rough, steals his wallet and blows all his cash.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
Verb
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Nico Williams soon dispossessed a stumbling Harry Maguire in the United half, and almost put Maroan Sannadi clear.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
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Attempts to dispossess majority indigenous populations are usually violent themselves, however, and almost always run up against resistance.—
Tamir Sorek,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Combs returns to the scene shortly thereafter and appears to grab at the phone.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
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Rutgers teammates Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey might end up as No. 2 and No. 3 overall, but the Hornets will be able to grab one if not.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Expropriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expropriate. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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