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
Therefore, the organization argued, the FCC was violating the constitution by usurping congress's power to tax.
—
Npr Washington Desk, NPR, 27 June 2025
Trump has already tried to use three pretexts to usurp power — terrorism, national emergency, and war itself — to justify his mass deportations, universal tariffs, and consolidations of power.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2025
The key is balance; usurping Guimaraes, Tonali and Joelinton is not going to be easy, but Miley has a great platform to take the next step in his career, steadily.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
She’s also amassed more than $9 million worth of real estate held in various trusts, owns multiple trademarks related to Belichick’s work, and may or may have usurped whatever autonomy Belichick once enjoyed.
—Bill Speros, Boston Herald, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Npr Washington Desk, NPR, 27 June 2025
Trump has already tried to use three pretexts to usurp power — terrorism, national emergency, and war itself — to justify his mass deportations, universal tariffs, and consolidations of power.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2025
The key is balance; usurping Guimaraes, Tonali and Joelinton is not going to be easy, but Miley has a great platform to take the next step in his career, steadily.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
She’s also amassed more than $9 million worth of real estate held in various trusts, owns multiple trademarks related to Belichick’s work, and may or may have usurped whatever autonomy Belichick once enjoyed.
—Bill Speros, Boston Herald, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for usurp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurp
Verb
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Marino revealed to This American Life that during the early days of filming the reality show, Butler approached him about selling large amounts of marijuana that had been seized in drug raids by Wielsch.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
22 July 2025
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Investigators noted that one of the devices that was seized could not be examined because it was encrypted, the warrant affidavit said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
22 July 2025
Verb
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From 2022 through 2024, law enforcement officials in California confiscated 139,017 guns used in crimes with identifiable serial numbers, according to the DOJ’s crime guns report.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
12 July 2025
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No charges have been pressed against Stone, but her family said her phone was confiscated.—
Joey Safchik,
NBC news,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Famous for alleging Mark Zuckerberg stole their idea for Facebook, the twins donated 15.47 Bitcoin apiece, worth $1 million each at the time, to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, citing issues with the Biden administration's approach toward cryptocurrency in a June 2024 post on X by Tyler Winklevoss.—
Thomas Gallagher,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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However, the location of the guitar has remained a mystery since September 1971, having been reportedly stolen during the band’s recording sessions for 1972’s Exile on Main St. at Villa Nellcôte on France’s Côte d’Azur.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
15 July 2025
Verb
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Leave your troubles behind and grab a lime, because Thursday is National Tequila Day.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
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Concerned, the roommates grabbed golf clubs from one of the first-floor bedrooms and checked the house for a possible intruder.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
24 July 2025
Verb
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The reality is only slightly more mundane: It was previously occupied by the manager of a pop superstar and a DJ/producer who recently closed a mid-eight-figure deal for his music catalog and label.—
Todd Longwell,
Variety,
23 July 2025
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Though the seat had been occupied by Republicans for 50 years, Mary eked ahead of former Republican Gov. Sarah Palin and GOP businessman Nick Begich III to flip the House seat blue and become the first-ever Alaska Native elected to Congress.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
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Through these innovations, the Sierra Energy has demonstrated a comprehensive, closed-loop solution for converting waste into clean energy and reusable materials—paving the way for a more sustainable future in both transportation and energy production.—
David Blekhman,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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And while consumer awareness is growing, education is still needed; overly complex terpene profiles can confuse rather than convert new buyers.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Usurp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurp. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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