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 treaty power from the Senate by calling treaties executive agreements.
—
Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
But digital technology has been used to obscure and usurp the truth about their lives.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
Those lawsuits — and others — argue that Trump has far exceeded the expansive powers of the presidency, usurping congressional prerogatives, trampling on due process and eroding free speech rights.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 15 Apr. 2025
DeSantis had suspended Worrell in August 2023 and appointed Bain to replace her, generating national headlines and outcry from Democrats who said DeSantis had usurped the will of voters.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
But digital technology has been used to obscure and usurp the truth about their lives.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
Those lawsuits — and others — argue that Trump has far exceeded the expansive powers of the presidency, usurping congressional prerogatives, trampling on due process and eroding free speech rights.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 15 Apr. 2025
DeSantis had suspended Worrell in August 2023 and appointed Bain to replace her, generating national headlines and outcry from Democrats who said DeSantis had usurped the will of voters.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurp
Verb
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Officials with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a search at Ross’ home in Oklahoma and seized materials that were used to build the explosive devices, police said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2025
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But is Simone now the villain – or simply someone with a tough upbringing who seized an opportunity to secure her future?—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Our families could be dishonored in public, our personal memories confiscated for storage inside the Criminal Archives.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
13 May 2025
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But white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa.—
Shannon K. Kingston,
ABC News,
13 May 2025
Verb
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The ‘Turkey Brothers’ steal the encore with a boisterous jam As fans begged for an encore to an empty stage, an unlikely guest took center stage.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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Mike gets into a brawl when Nathan (Dickinson, uncredited), a fellow addict also living rough, steals his wallet and blows all his cash.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
Verb
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Combs returns to the scene shortly thereafter and appears to grab at the phone.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
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Rutgers teammates Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey might end up as No. 2 and No. 3 overall, but the Hornets will be able to grab one if not.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
13 May 2025
Verb
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The Industrialist Facing the Barclays Center, The Industrialist occupies a four-story warehouse reimagined as an artist's sanctuary.—
Malik Peay,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
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One notable holdover from the prior films is providing a thread of lesbian desire, though Megan’s unrequited pining for Lori occupies a more marginal place in the narrative this time around.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Scheffler has now successfully converted his first three 54-hole leads or co-leads in majors, something done only nine other times in the modern era.—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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Apple and Google have also made efforts to remove AI services that convert clothed images into manipulated nude ones from their app stores and search results.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Usurp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurp. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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