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
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Recent Examples of usurping
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
He is now engaged in an ongoing insurrection by violating the Constitution, exceeding his lawful authorities, usurping Congress, and encouraging Republican states to manipulate voting districts and procedures.
—Washington Post, 3 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
The District of Columbia attorney general, however, accused the administration of unlawfully usurping control of the city’s law enforcement and violating a law prohibiting troops from doing domestic police work.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 27 Nov. 2025
Over time, her biological daughters would number in the thousands, usurping the colony until none of the original species remained.
—CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
Vought has exerted extraordinary control over government spending this year, usurping congressional decisions on how the nation's money is used.
—Amy Maxmen, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
He has been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with the sheriff and of usurping her authority, leading the county Board of Supervisors to eliminate his position in November 2024.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
Can a President break that compact, without consequence, usurping police powers that were never his to begin with?
—Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2025
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026
He is now engaged in an ongoing insurrection by violating the Constitution, exceeding his lawful authorities, usurping Congress, and encouraging Republican states to manipulate voting districts and procedures.
—Washington Post, 3 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
The District of Columbia attorney general, however, accused the administration of unlawfully usurping control of the city’s law enforcement and violating a law prohibiting troops from doing domestic police work.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 27 Nov. 2025
Over time, her biological daughters would number in the thousands, usurping the colony until none of the original species remained.
—CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
Vought has exerted extraordinary control over government spending this year, usurping congressional decisions on how the nation's money is used.
—Amy Maxmen, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
He has been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with the sheriff and of usurping her authority, leading the county Board of Supervisors to eliminate his position in November 2024.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
Can a President break that compact, without consequence, usurping police powers that were never his to begin with?
—Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurping
Verb
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Federal agents recently descended on Georgia state election offices without warning, seizing equipment, records, and ballots.—
State Rep. Matt Blumenthal,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
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Williams also said the warrant didn't specify what the agents were supposed to be seizing.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Early childhood advocates were delighted when he was sworn into office seven years ago, his arms around his scene-stealing 2-year-old son.—
CalMatters,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
-
According to preliminary reports, the suspects threatened them with a firearm and held them for several minutes while stealing valuables.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Now the city wants more tools to expand its limited enforcement options, which would start with warnings, then fines and may include confiscating food, equipment and carts found in violation of city ordinance and health codes.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Video of the incident shows a CBP officer confiscating the handgun shortly before other agents shot Pretti multiple times, killing him.—
Paul Kiefer,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Hearing the faint sirens of the white police officers who have been monitoring the area for no real reason, Kid attempts to blend into the party by grabbing the mic of the bored DJ—played by Parliament-Funkadelic’s George Clinton—to freestyle.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
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Or, Stein recommends grabbing a bed/mattress vacuum that is made specifically for the mattress.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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They're arranged in haphazard rows, with Andrew Jackson occupying a prime front spot simply because the owner likes his hair.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In general, a garden bed should be organized so the low-lying plants are in the foreground or used as edging, the medium-sized plants are occupying the middle section, and the tall plants are in the back.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For many reasons Texans are overtaxed as witnessed by the governor claiming surpluses.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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The co-owner of Pierozek in Brooklyn says a website claiming to sell pierogi plush pillows used photos from his restaurant's social media accounts in their customer reviews section.—
Kristie Keleshian,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Gordon then won a penalty after being taken out by Kochalski, before converting the penalty in the 45th minute to net his fourth.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Paved surfaces get hotter than those with plantings, absorbing and radiating out the sun’s energy rather than converting it into plant growth, which in turn creates shade.—
Meg Tanaka,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Usurping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurping. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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