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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurps
  1. seizes
  2. confiscates
  3. grabs
  4. steals
  5. occupies
  6. preempts
  7. appropriates
Verb
  • Trump seizes America’s 250th-birthday spotlight, headlining the Great American State Fair, hosting a UFC bout at the White House and promoting new passports, $250 bills and coins bearing his image.
    — Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
  • Ellie brings up the salad and seizes the opportunity to take credit for her part in making lunch.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 26 May 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
  • Once inside, she’s confronted by Tommy (James Eddie), who stupidly grabs her to escort her out.
    — William Earl, Variety, 2 July 2026
  • When forecasters warn about a heat wave, the number that grabs headlines is the daytime high.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of grabs
Verb
  • Expect travelers working on laptops by day, and by night, the motorized liquor riser—stacked with 1,500 bottles—steals the spotlight, a clever riff on NYC’s old automats.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
  • Rookie Travis Bazzana #37 of the Cleveland Guardians steals second base against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field on June 10, 2026.
    — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of steals
Verb
  • The show’s most memorable vignette centers on Thomas Cole’s Course of Empire, a suite of five paintings made between 1833 and 1836 that occupies a large corner at the back of the exhibition.
    — Cat Dawson, ARTnews.com, 3 July 2026
  • The primary suite occupies its own wing and comes complete with dual baths — one with stone and steam, the other with a soaking tub — a sun deck and private coffee bar.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Definition of occupies
Verb
  • The court held that federal pesticide law preempts a state failure-to-warn claim when the Environmental Protection Agency has not required a cancer warning on the product label.
    — Alex Smolak, STAT, 27 June 2026
  • The Justice wrote in a 7-2 opinion written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act expressly preempts state law and Monsanto's failure to warn consumers about the dangers of glyphosate.
    — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 25 June 2026
Definition of preempts
Verb
  • The bill appropriates $495 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
    — Carrie Brandon Elliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • The state appropriates within its budget to ensure bond holders know the state has the money, but the state hasn’t had to use that money because the admissions tax and tax district have funded the bond, Huston said.
    — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of appropriates

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usurping
usurps
utensil
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Cite this Entry

“Usurps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurps. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on usurps

Nglish: Translation of usurps for Spanish Speakers

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