as in seized
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
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 usurped
Team Cherry The Pale King usurped the ruling deity, the Radiance, a god of light who shines in contrast to the Abyss, a primordial force of darkness that is represented by Void.
—
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Mamoru Hosoda’s anime riff on Hamlet gives us a princess of Denmark hell-bent on killing the uncle who usurped the crown from her beloved dad.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2025
Resentment soon starts needling away at them as Theo goes over budget and Ivy feels her role as a mother has been usurped — the kids are now too health-conscious even to touch her desserts.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2025
Just as cable was usurped by fibre.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
However, Matheus Nunes had usurped him at right-back towards the end of the season and he was left out of the FA Cup final squad.
—David Ornstein, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
The fact that Colby usurped fourth-year pro Nick Zakelj was a bit surprising.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
The court of public opinion usurped the courts of law.
—Lynn Zovighian, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Mamoru Hosoda’s anime riff on Hamlet gives us a princess of Denmark hell-bent on killing the uncle who usurped the crown from her beloved dad.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2025
Resentment soon starts needling away at them as Theo goes over budget and Ivy feels her role as a mother has been usurped — the kids are now too health-conscious even to touch her desserts.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2025
Just as cable was usurped by fibre.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
However, Matheus Nunes had usurped him at right-back towards the end of the season and he was left out of the FA Cup final squad.
—David Ornstein, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
The fact that Colby usurped fourth-year pro Nick Zakelj was a bit surprising.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
The court of public opinion usurped the courts of law.
—Lynn Zovighian, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurped
Verb
-
Of course, reporter and friend Erin Andrews seized the opportunity to ask about his recent engagement.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Allen punctuated the drive with a 6-yard touchdown scamper, as the Fishermen seized a 7-0 lead.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The two weapons were then found and confiscated by the school resource officer and other safety personnel.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The victims had had their passports and phones confiscated.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
One partygoer grabbed a fragrance and practically bathed in the smokey orange accords of Rendez-Vous Ivory.—
Essence,
Essence,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Natalia’s story grabbed the attention of the public in 2019 when Indiana prosecutors leveled charges against the Barnetts for allegedly neglecting a dependent.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Roberts and Robinson, who federal prosecutors say conducted the scheme over the course of five years, between 2018 and 2023, allegedly stole $900,000 from the court system.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The weekly jobs report stole the spotlight, as an unexpected jump to multiyear highs bolstered fears about cracks in the labor market.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
No other candidates have officially announced their bid for the secretary of state’s office, which is now occupied by 11-year incumbent Steve Simon.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
-
But that’s really the only change since the checkout counter of this Aldi supermarket was occupied by a 19-year-old Tijjani Reijnders.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, biofuel production might turn this pathway into a tool for renewable energy, since fats can be converted into fuel.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
-
It is being converted from a helicopter carrier and is scheduled to complete all modifications in 2028 to operate F-35B fighter jets, the same type as those on the Prince of Wales.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Trump claimed without evidence that McEntarfer had manipulated statistics for political reasons.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
-
It is claimed to be the most powerful and efficient iPhone chip to date.—
Prakhar Khanna,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Additionally, the legislature appropriated $107 million for site and road improvements and construction of aircraft hangars.—
Ted Reed,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The White House has repeatedly withheld money previously appropriated by Congress, with minimal pushback from GOP lawmakers.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Usurped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurped. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share