Thesaurus results for USURPS

usurps

verb

present tense third-person singular of usurp

as in seizes

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

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 usurps California courts have repeatedly refused to rewrite unconstitutional tax statutes on the grounds that this usurps the role of the Legislature or, in the case of an initiative, the people. — Jared Walczak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2026 After witnessing Sinner miss 16 break points against the same opponent on Friday, Alcaraz would have been forgiven for worrying that something similar might happen to him — especially against arguably tennis’s greatest escape artist, at least until the Spaniard usurps him. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026 Jokic usurps Nurkic Jusuf Nurkic became Jokic’s first backup center in unceremonious fashion, getting benched by Michael Malone 25 games into his third season. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurps

Verb

That reporting revealed that the state frequently seizes money from legal settlements stemming from medical malpractice, police brutality, workplace injury and other wrongful death lawsuits.

— Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026
Wilson, meanwhile, seizes on the opening to play teacher’s pet.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of seizes

Verb

Unlike most other states, California has its own inspection-and-approval system for fireworks, and confiscates those failing standards.

— Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 30 June 2026
The children designated as Palestinians, meanwhile, have their drawings torn up and are relegated to small corners of the classroom while the teacher confiscates their candy.

— Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 26 Nov. 2025

Definition of confiscates

Verb

But for all the resort’s creature comforts, nature still steals the show.

— Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
The usual answer to this has been to rely on nuclear power to make it through the night, but there is an alternative that steals a page from Earth's playbook.

— David Szondy October 07, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of steals

Verb

The Renoir Museum occupies the final home of the leading French Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who lived there until his death in 1919.

— SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Related Articles The 8,000-square-foot triplex occupies part of the American Thread Building at 260 West Broadway, a Renaissance Revival building completed in 1896.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of occupies

Verb

Some have ruled that federal law preempts or blocks states and counties from suing under state law.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
The court could also choose to make clear that state-law damages claims could go forward, or that federal law preempts the claims altogether.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of preempts

Verb

Tiki bars aren’t without criticism, having occasionally been attacked as escapist fantasy that appropriates Hawaiian or Polynesian iconography.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Summary The Caribbean is increasingly a global wellness hub, though Western influence often appropriates Afro-Indigenous practices.

— Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of appropriates

Browse Nearby Words

usurping

usurps

utensil

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“Usurps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurps. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of usurps

verb

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