Thesaurus results for PECULATE

peculate

verb

Definition of peculate

as in to usurp

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for peculate

Verb

The head coach foresaw a transition taking place over a 12-to-18-month period, whereby Trafford would eventually usurp Pope, now 34.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Jason Speaking of football-loving families, the Kelces seem to have usurped the Mannings for the sport’s first family.

— Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of usurp

Verb

The bill has faced criticism from states, however, over aspects that would override, or preempt, their own laws.

— Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
As discussed in more detail below, the NBA, like other pro leagues, are contractually designed to preempt potential litigation brought by teams.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of preempt

Verb

The president responded by saying his administration wouldn't spend the $257 million appropriated by Congress on renovating the building unless the building also bears his name.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
Park rangers and visitor centers can help route you to appropriate care, and the California Department of Health is the contact point Yosemite officials named for the Curry Village incident.

— The Sacramento Bee staff, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of appropriate

Verb

There’s no indication Abby couldn’t have children of her own, was depressed, misused substances or asked Andrew for a divorce.

— Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026
As the Eastpointe City Council voted to terminate its contract with Flock cameras, officials say two police department employees were under investigation for allegedly misusing the technology.

— DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 16 Sep. 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

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

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Peculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peculate. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of peculate

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

nemesis

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes