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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of usurp
As the Meridian Empire sets out to usurp wealthy colonies and crush the pirate republic, Cat is faced with an ultimatum – turn in the fearsome Valerian Kane, the only man she’s ever loved and the biggest threat to the Empire, or die.
—
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
And by the time American Jack Hughes scored the overtime winner to seal Team USA’s 2-1 win and first men’s hockey gold since the Miracle on Ice in 1980, any morning grumblings were usurped by a surge of coast-to-coast jubilation.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
From time immemorial bad men have attempted and will continue to usurp the will of the people; the cycle of the oppressed becoming oppressor is catholic.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Many printers and news businesses were created, usurped or exchanged hands frequently during the 1910s era.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
And by the time American Jack Hughes scored the overtime winner to seal Team USA’s 2-1 win and first men’s hockey gold since the Miracle on Ice in 1980, any morning grumblings were usurped by a surge of coast-to-coast jubilation.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
From time immemorial bad men have attempted and will continue to usurp the will of the people; the cycle of the oppressed becoming oppressor is catholic.
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Many printers and news businesses were created, usurped or exchanged hands frequently during the 1910s era.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurp
Verb
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The game was largely back and forth after halftime, until the Jayhawks seized momentum late.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
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Other analysts, though, are more sanguine, reckoning that the allies can instead simply seize Iranian oil tankers.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Earlier Wednesday, journalists were shown equipment confiscated in raids elsewhere, including uniforms and fake identification cards used by scammers to pose online as Japanese police officers to trick and intimidate victims.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
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His father was forged by years of revolutionary hardship—prison, persecution, life underground—before coming to power and reportedly amassing a war chest exceeding $100 billion, built in part from properties confiscated from religious minorities who fled persecution.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The suspect vehicle in a shooting at the United States consulate in Toronto this week has been found and police on Thursday said that it was stolen.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
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Your 2nd House of Materials begins hosting the Moon today, drawing attention to budgets and routines that build security without stealing focus from larger goals.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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So grab your Kindle or take a trip to the bookstore, because your TBR is about to get a lot longer.—
De Elizabeth,
Glamour,
17 Mar. 2026
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Gui Santos put up 18 points and four rebounds, and Gary Payton II continued his strong run of play on the offensive side of the ball by scoring 15 and grabbing six rebounds.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Overlooking the holy North Indian city of Rishikesh (where the Beatles visited in the sixties) and the Ganga river, the spa occupies 100 acres of the palace estate of the local Maharaja.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
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The property occupies a lot of 5,400 square feet.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The device then converts those signals into hand movement commands.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
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Our friends converted their 400-person reception hall wedding into a spirited dance party at their home, with small groups of well-wishers, each small enough to fit into their bomb shelter, taking turns reveling.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Usurp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurp. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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