as in takeovers
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 expropriations
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
Major oil companies remain hesitant about Venezuela investments due to political instability, past expropriations and uncertainty over contract protections and guarantees.
—Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The expropriations led to more than 40 arbitration complaints against Venezuela in the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, which is part of the World Bank.
—Miami Herald, 17 Dec. 2025
Output plummeted due to decades of mismanagement, corruption, and expropriations that began under Hugo Chávez and worsened under Maduro.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
Land expropriations will also be authorized.
—CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
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
Major oil companies remain hesitant about Venezuela investments due to political instability, past expropriations and uncertainty over contract protections and guarantees.
—Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The expropriations led to more than 40 arbitration complaints against Venezuela in the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, which is part of the World Bank.
—Miami Herald, 17 Dec. 2025
Output plummeted due to decades of mismanagement, corruption, and expropriations that began under Hugo Chávez and worsened under Maduro.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
Land expropriations will also be authorized.
—CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expropriations
Noun
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Aitken traces the building’s guiding spirit through downtown’s uncanonized cultural lineage — along Alameda Street and to venues like LACE and Al’s Bar — where artists merged music and film in loft takeovers and avant-garde installations.—
Will Fenstermaker,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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The disconnect between Netflix’s ambition and its stock performance stems from a clash between long-term strategy and short-term financial realities, according to two entertainment analysts and a corporate lawyer specialized in big takeovers.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Still, authorities carried out raids and seizures.—
María Verza,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Neuromodulation is necessary for keeping the brain’s activity level in a functional range, preventing it from either flatlining or erupting in seizures.—
Ingrid Wickelgren,
Quanta Magazine,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The appropriations bill for DHS was the only one that was not passed as is, with senators agreeing on a two-week stopgap funding the agency while negotiations about reform play out.—
Jenny Goldsberry,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Feb. 2026
-
During a shutdown, the departments and agencies that don't have new or temporary funding must stop all nonessential functions until additional appropriations are enacted.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But county commissioners voted in February to put a moratorium on annexations and incorporations for at least five years to give the county time to assess the fiscal impact of future annexation and incorporations.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Expropriations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expropriations. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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