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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Recent Examples of expropriation
Palmer Luckey, same thing—equating property expropriation with democracy.
—
Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Books permit these corporations—many of them whose foundations are tied to European colonialism and the history of expropriation and looting—to be authors in the telling of history and culture.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
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
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
See All Example Sentences for expropriation
Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Books permit these corporations—many of them whose foundations are tied to European colonialism and the history of expropriation and looting—to be authors in the telling of history and culture.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
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
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
See All Example Sentences for expropriation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expropriation
Noun
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From Paramount’s perspective, there is no serious antitrust argument against the takeover.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the 17 people charged in a chaotic street takeover in Randolph, Massachusetts last year are due in Quincy District Court Wednesday.—
Penny Kmitt,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Its next stop will be the lower chamber’s appropriations committee.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
But Congress, not the White House, ultimately sets NASA’s funding levels through the appropriations process.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The double blockade actually creates a pretty tenuous situation because every interdiction, every warning shot, every seizure of vessels, could become a trigger for a wider relapse into conflict.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
27 Apr. 2026
-
That certification does not mention mines specifically and is intended to protect against the entire spectrum of threats, including missile and drone attacks or seizures, Mortimer said.—
Ben Finley,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The city manager and other officials are named in an April 6 lawsuit seeking to reverse the annexation.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Apr. 2026
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The Oswego Village Board authorized an annexation agreement with the developer, MK Builders and Construction LLC, in May of 2025.—
Linda Girardi,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This is an ancient practice that continues into the Middle Ages called usurpation.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
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 29 Apr. 2026.
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