kən-ˈfi-skət
Synonyms
Examples of confiscate in a Sentence
Alex Williams, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Conducting a border search on his room, officials confiscated two of his phones to examine.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2024
In 2003, Congress passed a law known as the Tiahrt Amendment, which prevents the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from publicly releasing information identifying the retailers who originally sold guns confiscated by police during criminal investigations.
—Vernal Coleman, ProPublica, 27 Mar. 2024
Among the hidden cameras confiscated by police was one that appeared to be a miniature soccer ball, according to photographs released by the department.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
After Germany’s defeat in World War II, Soviet occupiers confiscated Audi’s manufacturing equipment.
—Jack Ewing, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Kazan airport employees initially confiscated both of her passports and, soon after, she was fined for failing to register her American passport with the Russian authorities, RFE/RL said.
—Mariya Knight, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024
One of the most dramatic episodes occurred in 1963, when U.S. Marshals raided Hubbard’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., and confiscated more than a hundred E-meters.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2024
Last year, police said, officers confiscated more than 100 guns in the area.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'confiscate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near confiscate
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“Confiscate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confiscate. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
confiscate
transitive verb
Note: Illegal items such as narcotics or firearms, or profits from the sale of illegal items, may be confiscated by law enforcement officers. Additionally, government action that reduces the value of property to a person or entity as to make it nearly worthless has been held to constitute confiscation. Examples of such government action include the passage of zoning laws that prevent the use of land for its designated purpose and the setting of utility rates so low that the utility company cannot realize a reasonable return on its investment.
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