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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurps
Verb
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Suddenly, the Thursday Murder Club seizes an opportunity and leaps from the cold case realm into a very hot murder investigation.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025 -
During a physical confrontation, Matheo forces Saskia to retreat, and Sylvie seizes the opportunity to grab Saskia’s gun.—
Time,
Time,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As fans scramble to catch the ball, footage shows, the ball appears to land one row in front of a woman while a man runs over and grabs it.—
Chandelis Duster,
NPR,
7 Sep. 2025
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With City’s left-back, Matheus Nunes, moving out of position to press Mainoo, Ugarte’s involvement grabs the attention of Ilkay Gundogan and Josko Gvardiol.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Rachel McAdams is terrific as Margaret’s mom, balancing ambition and self-doubt, while Oscar-winner Kathy Bates steals the show (big surprise) as the fiercely loving grandmother.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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His latest is the story of a teenager who steals his driving instructor’s car in order to visit his girlfriend in college.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Where to stay Renovated in 2021, the Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou occupies the 20th–38th floors of a tower only steps from the Pearl River.—
Mae Hamilton,
AFAR Media,
9 Sep. 2025
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McCormick occupies District 1, which is fully within Johnson's 4th Congressional District.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Under state law, the legislature currently preempts all authority of a home rule charter or city government to regulate firearms and ammunition.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Braisted explained that the school district answers to the state, which appropriates most federal funding for MNPS.—
Evan Mealins,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
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These words have different meanings in the context of AAVE, some say, and using them in a way that appropriates or stereotypes certain people groups strips away the importance of the original definitions.—
Mia Thurow,
jsonline.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Usurps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurps. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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