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
Hegseth and Feinberg, Phelan said, had imposed rigid control over submarine and shipbuilding decisions, effectively usurping the Navy’s authority, these people said.
—
Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 2 May 2026
And so this is part of a longstanding trend of Congress kind of allowing the White House to usurp their authority.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 1 May 2026
This would reset the balance between the executive and legislative branches, demanding the House and Senate not cede excessive authority to unelected bureaucrats who are only too happy to usurp legislative powers.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
Rookie catcher Daniel Susac isn’t going to usurp Bailey, a two-time Gold Glover, after a couple of good starts, but Susac could very well see more time against lefties.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 2 May 2026
And so this is part of a longstanding trend of Congress kind of allowing the White House to usurp their authority.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 1 May 2026
This would reset the balance between the executive and legislative branches, demanding the House and Senate not cede excessive authority to unelected bureaucrats who are only too happy to usurp legislative powers.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
Rookie catcher Daniel Susac isn’t going to usurp Bailey, a two-time Gold Glover, after a couple of good starts, but Susac could very well see more time against lefties.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurp
Verb
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In April, Ukraine actually took back more land than Russia seized for the first time since 2024.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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Metcalf's father has condemned those who have seized on the race of the teenagers after the killing.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Fighting is also driving ongoing displacements and deaths in the nearby Artibonite region where on Wednesday police destroyed the home of the head of the Kokorat San Ras gang and confiscated several weapons.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2026
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After all, having property confiscated should mean that a later settlement is effectively paying you for your property.—
Robert W. Wood,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Sukhmati described how her comrades would raid police stations to steal weapons.—
Dhruv Tikekar,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
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Tovar also stole home in the fourth inning.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Stop here for suggestions on the best nearby dog-friendly parks for your pup, to pick up breakfast vouchers, and to grab a list of participating local businesses that offer discounts to Hotel Lucia guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Rollins sneakily grabbed the title and put it near his abdomen.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
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While occupying the catwalk, contestants were allowed three ten-minute breaks and a twenty-minute shower each day.—
Jonathan Odden,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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The hotel occupies 12 floors of a 42-story tower, offering 277 guest rooms and suites along with 15,000 square feet of event space.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
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In a July 2015 memorandum, the county suggested purchasing a lot near the Bethel House to be converted into a parking lot, then give it to the Bethel House upon completion.—
Delia Rose Sauer,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
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In early January, Chan and five other quantum chemists based out of the California Institute of Technology reached a key milestone in understanding the enzyme nitrogenase, which converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia and makes life on our planet possible.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Usurp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurp. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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