as in takeover
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority
the development of the colony involved expropriation of large tracts of fertile farmland from the natives
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expropriation
The expropriations, along with the firings, consolidated state control of the oil sector and, experts say, drained the country of expertise and investment, inflicting lasting damage.
—
Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Over the last 20 years, successive Venezuelan governments under Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chávez almost brought the oil industry to a standstill by threatening foreign companies with expropriations.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 13 Feb. 2026
Following the 2007 expropriations under Chávez, many of these facilities were nationalized, and then undermaintained and allowed to deteriorate.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Trump has repeatedly called the expropriations the largest theft in American history.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expropriation
Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Over the last 20 years, successive Venezuelan governments under Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chávez almost brought the oil industry to a standstill by threatening foreign companies with expropriations.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 13 Feb. 2026
Following the 2007 expropriations under Chávez, many of these facilities were nationalized, and then undermaintained and allowed to deteriorate.
—Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Trump has repeatedly called the expropriations the largest theft in American history.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expropriation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expropriation
Noun
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Police have arrested a man in connection with a street takeover in East Haven in November where multiple people climbed on top of a police cruiser and a fire extinguisher was thrown at it.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
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Germany’s Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil wants to force foreign companies to form joint ventures with local firms to operate within Europe, while also seeking tighter scrutiny over cross-border takeovers.—
Kamil Kowalcze,
Bloomberg,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Donations to the government are accepted into the Treasury Department – which holds the government's cash – and then disbursed based on congressional appropriations – rules set by Congress about how they can be distributed – just like other federal funds.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
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Schumer introduced a bill to solely fund TSA, suspending Senate rules and advancing it through the Rules Committee, which doesn’t handle appropriations legislation.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There have been several large drug seizures in Puerto Rico in the last few months alone.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
From 2022 to 2024, Mexican authorities greatly increased the seizure of these vehicles and the detention of migrants traveling inside them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The controversial Crowsnest annexation petition in Castle Pines has been withdrawn by the developer, as Castle Pines prepares to consider creating an annexation policy.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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Approved on Tuesday was the annexation of the land into Yorkville that will one day hold the Project Cardinal data centers, a rezoning of the area to a general manufacturing zoning district and utility, infrastructure and development agreements between the city and Pioneer Development.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This is an ancient practice that continues into the Middle Ages called usurpation.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
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The Court’s usurpation runs deeper than the invalidation of statutes with a liberal cast, though there has been plenty of that.—
Duncan Hosie,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expropriation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expropriation. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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