as in seizing
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 usurping
The opposition’s narrative that Hollywood is usurping home rule is entirely backward.
—
Keith Poliakoff,
Sun Sentinel,
1 June 2026
But even with the UFC’s challenges, no rival promotion has come close to usurping the sport’s power dynamic.
—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Hegseth and Feinberg, Phelan said, had imposed rigid control over submarine and shipbuilding decisions, effectively usurping the Navy’s authority, these people said.
—
Dan Lamothe,
Washington Post,
2 May 2026
One wonders how long the citizens of those communities are going to put up with the state usurping their authority to govern themselves.
—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
One of the things that's gone really wrong in America is this gas station/convenience store/fast food restaurant that is usurping small town America.
—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
This would seem to challenge the notion that AI usurping human skills will democratize them—for instance, by broadening who is able to contribute meaningfully to math’s advancement.
—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
16 Mar. 2026
Callie is popular and vivacious, perpetually surrounded by admirers and various hangers-on (Audrey Grace Marshall’s Cara is hellbent on usurping Minnie’s place in Callie’s life, while her himbo-esque boyfriend Brad is given wonderful dimension through Beck Nolan’s sneaky-good performance).
—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
The War of the Two Caesars also serves as a nice mirror for everything going down with the Brotherhood, Elder Cleric Quintus still hellbent on usurping the Commonwealth despite the arrival of Kumail Nanjiani’s Paladin Xander Harkness, an emissary from that neck of the woods.
—
Jack King,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Keith Poliakoff,
Sun Sentinel,
1 June 2026
But even with the UFC’s challenges, no rival promotion has come close to usurping the sport’s power dynamic.
—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Hegseth and Feinberg, Phelan said, had imposed rigid control over submarine and shipbuilding decisions, effectively usurping the Navy’s authority, these people said.
—
Dan Lamothe,
Washington Post,
2 May 2026
One wonders how long the citizens of those communities are going to put up with the state usurping their authority to govern themselves.
—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
One of the things that's gone really wrong in America is this gas station/convenience store/fast food restaurant that is usurping small town America.
—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
This would seem to challenge the notion that AI usurping human skills will democratize them—for instance, by broadening who is able to contribute meaningfully to math’s advancement.
—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
16 Mar. 2026
Callie is popular and vivacious, perpetually surrounded by admirers and various hangers-on (Audrey Grace Marshall’s Cara is hellbent on usurping Minnie’s place in Callie’s life, while her himbo-esque boyfriend Brad is given wonderful dimension through Beck Nolan’s sneaky-good performance).
—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
The War of the Two Caesars also serves as a nice mirror for everything going down with the Brotherhood, Elder Cleric Quintus still hellbent on usurping the Commonwealth despite the arrival of Kumail Nanjiani’s Paladin Xander Harkness, an emissary from that neck of the woods.
—
Jack King,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurping
Verb
-
Hezbollah and Israel went to war shortly after the outbreak of the wider conflict, with Hezbollah firing rockets and drones at civilian communities in northern Israel and Israel seizing large swaths of southern Lebanon.
-
Federal immigration agents were seizing people across the city.
Verb
-
As the berries begin to ripen, cover the pots with netting to keep birds and other animals from stealing your harvest.
-
The technology’s ability to reduce theft and fraud is especially intriguing, given the crimes are not generally a person or group simply stealing freight.
Verb
-
As Israeli authorities begin confiscating their land, personal tensions collide with political pressure.
-
In New York state social studies classes, communism and socialism are presented as two economic systems that make things more equal and fair, with no historical references to the atrocities committed by socialist and communist regimes confiscating property.
Verb
-
Farage, Reform’s attention-grabbing but divisive leader, was a curiously low-key presence.
-
With that in mind, if the Pacers want to acquire a draft pick, following their past and grabbing one in the 30s makes good sense.
Verb
-
Austria was well represented as well, with a supporter’s group occupying four sections in the north side of the stadium, who enjoyed watching two second-half goals scored right in front of them.
-
Lindholm, Jokiharju, and Korpisalo are occupying salary that would be better allocated for C and right D.
Verb
-
Sina Azodi, director of George Washington University’s Middle East studies program, noted Israel’s attacks on Lebanon are an issue for Iran while the US could possibly interpret Tehran claiming to close the Strait of Hormuz as a violation of the memorandum of understanding.
-
South African and Malawian authorities have been coordinating in recent weeks to facilitate the repatriation of thousands of Malawian citizens gathered at the site in Durban, claiming to flee anti-migrant tensions and fears of violence.
Verb
-
Teboho Mokoena started the game with tears in his eyes and finished it with a smile on his face after converting a second-half penalty in South Africa's 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic on Thursday at the World Cup.
-
The Menil Collection in Houston will reopen its Fresco Building in late 2027, converting the space into a site for site-specific commissions.
Cite this Entry
“Usurping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurping. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
