as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
the mayor usurped the school board's authority when he fired the principal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of usurp
The president has usurped the war power from Congress.
—
Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
Newsom and Bonta announced that the Golden State was the first state to sue the White House in federal court, arguing that the president had usurped Congress’s power to set taxes and control the budget by enacting the tolls.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2025
None of this bodes well for Vance’s argument that judges are trying to usurp the role of American voters.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
Pitney Bowes is now on its fourth CEO in three years, with the activist investor that started it all usurping the head of the table.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
Newsom and Bonta announced that the Golden State was the first state to sue the White House in federal court, arguing that the president had usurped Congress’s power to set taxes and control the budget by enacting the tolls.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2025
None of this bodes well for Vance’s argument that judges are trying to usurp the role of American voters.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
Pitney Bowes is now on its fourth CEO in three years, with the activist investor that started it all usurping the head of the table.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurp
Verb
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Morena overhauled the court system late last year, fueling protests and criticism that the reform is an attempt by those in power to seize on their political popularity to gain control of the branch of government, that was until now, out of their reach.—
MARÍA VERZA,
Arkansas Online,
3 June 2025
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Arrests made, guns seized after 5 musicians found dead near U.S. border Feds charge California man with threatening to kill Trump on Facebook Cold Case DNA Florida Emily Mae Czachor Emily Mae Czachor is a news editor at CBSNews.com.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Her family remained in Italy until 1939, when the Italian Racial Laws barred Jews from certain jobs and ordered Jewish property and businesses to be confiscated.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
5 June 2025
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After Parker was revealed to be Spider-Man, the glasses were confiscated and haven't been seen since.—
Jeremy Hanna,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Verb
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This image from Japan catches a White-Tailed Sea Eagle hiding a fish in a hole as another eagle was approaching to steal it.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Lucas Moore drew a walk and stole second, then Matt Klein advanced Moore to third with a groundout to first, and Zion Rose followed with a game-tying RBI single to center.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Appeal To All Five Senses People still like going out, meeting others and grabbing coffee.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Scott grabbed some pizza and returned to park her Subaru near the West Shore Market to wait for Serafini.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Nearly the entire Republican Party, which occupied about seventy percent of congressional seats, voted for it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 June 2025
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In a space formerly occupied by the finance ministry, a towering glass ceiling shelters statues that once cavorted in open courtyards.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2025
Verb
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Nearby Experiences Off-property, a 10-minute drive away, check into Havn, a WWII-era barge converted into a wellness spa docked in Victoria’s Inner Harbour.—
Katie Nanton,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2025
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According to Academy rules, this converts the category into a juried award.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Usurp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurp. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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