peculate

verb

Definition of peculatenext
as in to usurp

Related Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for peculate
  1. usurp
  2. embezzle
  3. seize
  4. preempt
  5. appropriate
  6. misuse
  7. arrogate
  8. confiscate
Verb
  • When talkies usurped silent films, in the late 1920s, theaters scrambled to adapt to a new, squatter format.
    — Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
  • The update indicated that Maersk is set to fall behind CMA CGM for second-largest container shipping capacity worldwide by July 2027, while Hapag-Lloyd could be usurped by Ocean Network Express (ONE) in February 2028.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
Definition of usurp
Verb
  • Matthew Robinson was sued by his brother and a co-founder of the company, claiming $100,000 was embezzled over two years, according to a 2014 lawsuit.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026
  • Lum is charged with embezzling more than $600,000 from the institution.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 14 July 2026
Definition of embezzle
Verb
  • Now protesters are using that same platform to mock his administration, ridicule pro-government television news coverage, transform confrontation with police into viral content and seize control of the online narrative.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • Investigators also seized boxes that had been resealed and were ready to ship, packages containing modeling clay instead of fragrance products, additional modeling clay, a heat gun, glue and packaging materials, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
Definition of seize
Verb
  • Pierron, who recalled not being able to watch the 1986 World Cup final in Olathe because it had been preempted by a telethon, bought season tickets right away.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
  • The local ordinances remain on the books, but employers are no longer required to follow their criminal history timing restrictions because state law preempts them.
    — Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of preempt
Verb
  • By contrast, Congress appropriates much of the public-private institution’s funding and exercises oversight over the institution, which is governed by a board of regents.
    — Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
  • Money appropriated to help the IRS collect taxes already owed is routine described in terms of spending, waste, or bureaucratic excess.
    — Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of appropriate
Verb
  • Minnesota has done well to target players whom other franchises underused or misused, then optimize them in the Lynx system.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • For another, the settlement requires Anthropic to destroy all their works and allows for future litigation, should Anthropic misuse their works after the dust settles.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026
Definition of misuse
Verb
  • What shouldn’t happen is for the federal government to arrogate to itself nationalization powers over what fans are so passionate about.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
  • But all of those ideas for spending or tax rebates, again, all of those are congressional authority that the president is arrogating to himself—something else that would have startled the founders of the country all those 250 years ago.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
Definition of arrogate
Verb
  • Two days after she was reported missing, Rivas Hernandez returned home and her parents confiscated her phone.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 25 July 2026
  • Prosecutors allege Burke later bought Rivas a secret phone and paid a classmate $1,000 to deliver it after her parents confiscated her previous device.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026
Definition of confiscate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Pecksniffian
peculate
peculated
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Cite this Entry

“Peculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peculate. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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