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
The series won four consecutive awards starting in 2018, having usurped The Voice and The Amazing Race, which previously regularly won the category, before losing out to Prime Video’s Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls in 2022 and coming back to win in 2023.
—
Peter White, Deadline, 15 July 2025
He was signed aged 29 in 2022 on a free transfer, usurped Vicente Guaita to become first choice and then, after being deposed by Henderson, was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2024 for £10million ($13.5m).
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 9 July 2025
Importantly, many organizations are beholden to either a single plan design, or designs that have long been usurped by new regime plans with substantially greater optics and efficiencies.
—Jim Hebets, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
His wife, Meredith, son, Bennett, and his faith all usurp his day job.
—Max Rego, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Peter White, Deadline, 15 July 2025
He was signed aged 29 in 2022 on a free transfer, usurped Vicente Guaita to become first choice and then, after being deposed by Henderson, was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2024 for £10million ($13.5m).
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 9 July 2025
Importantly, many organizations are beholden to either a single plan design, or designs that have long been usurped by new regime plans with substantially greater optics and efficiencies.
—Jim Hebets, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
His wife, Meredith, son, Bennett, and his faith all usurp his day job.
—Max Rego, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurp
Verb
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In total, authorities seized about $3.7 million in Home Depot property, as well as $800,000 in cash.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
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Soon after, romance writers seized the topic and have refused to let go, starting with Jill Myles’s Wicked Games, published under the pseudonym Jessica Clare in 2011.—
Hannah Berman
August 27,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Agents allegedly confiscated his Real ID and phone.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
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Last December, Greek Police confiscated 205 pounds of cocaine at the Thessaloniki port after customs agents X-rayed a banana container.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The multifunction massaging seats stole the show for passengers during our review experience.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
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The big story At a time when U.S. trade tariffs on India have been making headlines, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tax relief plans have stolen some of the media limelight.—
Ayushi Jindal,
CNBC,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When the fatigue threshold is hit, a generative AI model can automatically suggest a range of alternative creatives, using insights from predictive models to determine which assets are most likely to grab attention.—
Sergii Denysenko,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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And since Birkenstocks almost never go on sale, this is the time to grab a pair before the season shifts.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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China began occupying Mischief Reef in 1994, initially claiming the area was used to support Chinese fishermen.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
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Russian forces now occupy the villages of Zaporizke and Novoheorhiivka, according to DeepState, a group tracking battlefield developments.—
Svitlana Vlasova,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly into electricity.—
Gaelle Legrand,
CNBC,
23 Aug. 2025
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Through fusion, which takes place at the center of the star where the temperature and density are the highest, hydrogen is converted into helium to create the outer layers of the onion structure.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Usurp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurp. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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