Thesaurus results for PECULATE

peculate

verb

Definition of peculate

as in to usurp

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for peculate

Verb

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
Beulah's spurned heir Joaquin (Juan Pablo Raba) calls up the mysterious Mariana (Raoul Max Trujillo) to help with his many problems, which include his ranch-usurping half-brother Rob-Will and those Duttons from Montana.

— Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Definition of usurp

Verb

Elle and her friends discover that Dean and the head of their school, Principal Anderson (Matt Oberg), are embezzling funds.

— Erin Jensen, USA Today, 1 July 2026
The initiative ultimately collapsed in 2024 after the company’s founder, Joanna Smith-Griffith, was accused of embezzling funds amid data privacy concerns and whistleblower allegations.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026

Definition of embezzle

Verb

Arthur Kaluma seized his Summer League moment in Las Vegas, scoring 34 points in the Lakers’ 91-70 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

— Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
And some have responded by seizing the female obsession with looks, already rooted in misogyny, and rebranding it with maximum toxicity—in other words, by becoming looksmaxxers.

— Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026

Definition of seize

Verb

The biggest differences touch on one of the stickiest issues in Washington — whether a single federal standard should preempt state laws around AI.

— Emily Wilkins, CNBC, 9 July 2026
No clear intent from Congress to preempt Torres does not see any clear intent from Congress to preempt New York gambling laws.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026

Definition of preempt

Verb

On the night Republicans approved the legislation in the Senate, Graham accused Democrats of obstructing the normal bipartisan process for appropriating federal money.

— Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 12 July 2026
The suit, filed in Illinois’ federal district court in May, alleges that Thomas appropriated Karant’s images without attribution or consent, according to court documents obtained by Hyperallergic.

— News Desk, Artforum, 9 July 2026

Definition of appropriate

Verb

Several more law enforcement officers have been arrested and charged with misusing license plate reader systems this week, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and local officials.

— Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
No company is immune to data breaches or leaks, and there is always the risk that sensitive data will be misused by companies or bad actors.

— Justyn Newman, PC Magazine, 8 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

The agent confiscated the letter, carried by Cuban businessman Roberto Carlos Chamizo, and sent him back to Havana.

— Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Drone operators who violate the temporary flight restrictions could face fines of up to $100,000, have their equipment confiscated, and potentially face criminal charges, the FBI said.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 30 June 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.

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Pecksniffian

peculate

peculated

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“Peculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peculate. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of peculate

verb

Example Sentences

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