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
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
-
Ukraine accused Hungary’s pro-Russian government of taking the Ukrainians hostage and illegally seizing millions of dollars in cash.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The same thing happened in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Newcastle, with O’Brien seizing on Dan Burn’s clearing header.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The bishop of a Chaldean Catholic church based in El Cajon is accused of stealing more than $250,000 from the church and backfilling the hole in the books with money intended to be used for poor people, a prosecutor told an East County judge Monday.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The reverend in charge of the largest cathedral in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh is accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of baseball trading cards.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Wembanyama had back-to-back dunks in the second quarter, including grabbing his own miss and throwing it down for what became a three-point play on a foul by Javonte Green.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Brigham is also charged with assaulting a man by grabbing and twisting his genitals.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
However, China’s most salt mines have a high content of impurities, with sediment occupying significant underground space.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
-
But The Pitt is also a ratings juggernaut, occupying the rare slice of the Venn diagram where critical acclaim, audience acclaim, and real popularity all intersect.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Times sued the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December, claiming the credentialing policy violates the journalists’ constitutional rights to free speech and due process.—
Michael Kunzelman,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The Times sued the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December, claiming the credentialing policy violates the journalists’ constitutional rights to free speech and due process.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In a few weeks, this site will be Pacific Electric, a new 750-capacity music venue that Lovett and his venue-developer firm TVG Hospitality have been converting for six years.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
For the old school crowd, that means teams are converting on 42 percent of their power plays over Vancouver’s last 21 games.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Usurping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurping. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
