usurpation

noun

Definition of usurpationnext
as in takeover
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority the unexpected usurpation of power by the government resulted in the townspeople revolting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of usurpation Cathy’s ingratiation with, and eventual usurpation of, brothel owner Faye (Martha Plimpton) gets an entire episode. — Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026 Wasserman Schultz’s decision to run in the historically Black 20th Congressional District was selfish and opportunistic carpetbagging, a devastating usurpation of power from Black Floridians. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 The attempt of any of the parts to exercise it is usurpation. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 Those laws sought to alter the reporting structure for the secretary or the directors in violation of Amendment 33 of the Arkansas Constitution, which protects the vested powers of constitutional boards, like the Board of Corrections, from usurpation by the governor, the General Assembly or both. — Arkansas Online, 18 May 2026 This is an ancient practice that continues into the Middle Ages called usurpation. — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026 The Court’s usurpation runs deeper than the invalidation of statutes with a liberal cast, though there has been plenty of that. — Duncan Hosie, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026 As Isaac told it, his kingdom’s history is rife with treachery, usurpation, and murder. — Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurpation
  1. takeover
  2. appropriation
  3. seizure
  4. annexation
Noun
  • In Frisco, Texas, opposition to Hindu temples and a mosque fueled claims of an Indian takeover, and a protester tore apart an Indian flag near City Hall.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, who Abbott appointed, announced the takeover October 2025, after a school that had since been closed received five consecutive failing scores in Texas’ A-F accountability ratings.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of takeover
Noun
  • Unlike most educational funding, the FSTC isn’t a legislative appropriation.
    — Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 protects lawmakers’ decisions against presidential efforts to ignore congressional appropriations.
    — Stephanie A, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of appropriation
Noun
  • On April 13, 2021—the day after Lanitis died—the Appenzell Ausserrhoden prosecutor’s office ordered the seizure of relevant records and called for an autopsy, which revealed that Lanitis had died of multiple organ failure.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • This comes amid a surge of violence and land seizures by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
    — Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of seizure
Noun
  • Three weeks after the city stopped the annexation, effectively killing the development, local reporters confirmed that Beale was moving forward with the data center anyway.
    — Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026
  • In February, the cities of Fort Worth and Aledo joined together to sue Willow Park in Parker County, saying the initial annexation was unlawful since the land wasn’t contiguous to Willow Park’s boundaries.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of annexation

Browse Nearby Words

usurp
usurpation
usurpations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Usurpation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurpation. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of satiate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All