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
Trump has repeatedly called the expropriations the largest theft in American history.
—
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
Although the process of expropriation of local and international private companies continued during the first years of Maduro’s government, since 2013 his government has slowly authorized the return of some of those assets to private businesses.
—Miami Herald, 17 Dec. 2025
Communists typically believe in one-party rule and the forcible expropriation of private property.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2025
Since 1980, countries have signed more than 2,600 bilateral and multilateral investment treaties that protect investors from national expropriation, trade discrimination, and undue regulatory burdens.
—Jessica F. Green, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expropriation
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
Although the process of expropriation of local and international private companies continued during the first years of Maduro’s government, since 2013 his government has slowly authorized the return of some of those assets to private businesses.
—Miami Herald, 17 Dec. 2025
Communists typically believe in one-party rule and the forcible expropriation of private property.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2025
Since 1980, countries have signed more than 2,600 bilateral and multilateral investment treaties that protect investors from national expropriation, trade discrimination, and undue regulatory burdens.
—Jessica F. Green, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expropriation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expropriation
Noun
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Morath announced a state takeover of Fort Worth ISD last year after a single campus in the district, Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade Center, received five consecutive failure ratings in the state’s A-F accountability scores.—
Silas Allen,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Morath confirmed the takeover decision in October, and a panel of state administrative law judges ruled against Fort Worth ISD last month in the school district’s final appeal.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The attack comes amid an ongoing partial government shutdown that began after Democrats blocked appropriations for DHS over concerns with its immigration enforcement tactics.—
Dan Mangan,Leslie Josephs,Spencer Kimball,CJ Haddad,Justin Papp,Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
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And yet the question of how all this money is to be spent is almost entirely absent from the current congressional-appropriations debate.—
Garrett M. Graff,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The seizure by Israel of more territory in south Lebanon, accompanied by a surge of violence including air strikes, follows Hezbollah’s decision to avenge the killing of the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
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Then, with the flip of a switch in the control room next door, the cab would start to shake and roll on its piston legs, as if having a seizure.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The land is near Parker's Pradera neighborhood and the Crowsnest properties currently seeking annexation into Castle Pines.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
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The Village Farms Development Team recently formed a political committee to advocate for Measure V, an annexation vote required under Davis’s Measure J-R-D growth-control ordinance, will appear on the city’s June 2 ballot.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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As Isaac told it, his kingdom’s history is rife with treachery, usurpation, and murder.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Expropriation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expropriation. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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