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
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
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
Noun
-
The backstory The Artist opened in 2024 as a takeover of the Gran Hotel Domine, a hotel that was built in 2002 following the museum’s inauguration in 1997.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
-
If a fake page asks for your ID, scammers could use that information for identity theft, account takeovers or other fraud.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
What To Know Representative Mike Simpson, an Idaho Republican, introduced an amendment to an appropriations bill to fund the Department of the Interior that, if passed, would rename the Kennedy Center for the first lady.—
Hollie Silverman
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
-
The $200 million allocated to truck parking in the House transportation appropriations bill released last week is a welcome start to preventing similar tragedies.—
Chris Spear,
Chicago Tribune,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
Under current law, 65% of money from fireworks fines and seizures must go to the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Fireworks Enforcement and Disposal Fund.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
-
Owen – an honors student and a volunteer at the local police department who had recently started working at a senior living community and who loved to draw, sing, dance, act and design fashion – died of a seizure.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Pushing back against Israeli annexation efforts is crucial to reviving the possibility of a two-state solution.—
Hussein Ibish,
The Atlantic,
20 Aug. 2025
-
This eventually led to the full annexation of Crimea by the Russian Empire in 1783.—
Mark Temnycky,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Usurpation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurpation. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
