as in to seize
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
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Recent Examples of usurp
While the Bundesliga marketing machine has usurped the original Klassiker by slapping the Klassiker label on Bayern against Dortmund, this is not only the match with the most history in Germany but also has been a competitive fixture over recent years.
—
Manuel Veth, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Vodka had overtaken gin in popularity by 1967, but by 2000 had fully usurped it, like Claudius to King Hamlet—occupied its position, married its wife, and taken control of its lands.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 4 Jan. 2025
Again, West Ham worked behind his back in advance of usurping him.
—Phil Hay, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Unfortunately, mid-rehearsal, their mother, Rose (an absolutely magnificent McDonald), comes thundering onto the stage, usurping Jocko’s leadership and sucking up all of the air into the room.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for usurp 
Manuel Veth, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Vodka had overtaken gin in popularity by 1967, but by 2000 had fully usurped it, like Claudius to King Hamlet—occupied its position, married its wife, and taken control of its lands.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 4 Jan. 2025
Again, West Ham worked behind his back in advance of usurping him.
—Phil Hay, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Unfortunately, mid-rehearsal, their mother, Rose (an absolutely magnificent McDonald), comes thundering onto the stage, usurping Jocko’s leadership and sucking up all of the air into the room.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for usurp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurp
Verb
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Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, land Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East war.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
23 Jan. 2025
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Yemen's Houthi rebels announced on Wednesday the release of the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a commercial vessel seized in November 2023 during their campaign in the Red Sea.—
Raul A. Reyes,
Newsweek,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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His service items, including his badge and firearm, were also confiscated.—
Barbara A. Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
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We were interrogated, the contents of our suitcase was kind of picked through and things were confiscated.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Then the men forced her mother to open the safe, stealing several pieces of jewelry and about $10,000 that was inside, prosecutors said.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
17 Jan. 2025
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On the pavement outside the store, Rich told her brother, someone had rolled Ervin’s body over and stolen the pack of cigarettes.—
Kallie Cox,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In the hills of the Palisades, near the Temescal Ridge Trail, Alex Emerick, 34, his younger sister, Rainier, and their parents grabbed garden hoses at their home of 33 years.—
Laura J. Nelson,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Jan. 2025
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The witness jumped in to assist and grab the knife, cutting himself in the process.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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San Diego Wave has completed the signing of France midfielder Kenza Dali from Aston Villa. Dali, 33, has joined the club on a two-year deal through to 2027 and will occupy an international slot on the Wave’s roster in 2025.—
Ali Rampling,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
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By then, anti-vaccination protesters had occupied the grounds outside Parliament, and Ardern and her family were threatened with violence.—
Caryn James,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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On the ensuing possession, Rice was fouled and converted the first of two free throws with 22 seconds to go.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Jan. 2025
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The manor house was converted into a museum, and is now home to many of Austen’s personal possessions, as well as work by women writers across the United Kingdom, including Mary Wollstonecraft and Elizabeth Blackwell.—
Cat Sposato,
AFAR Media,
17 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near usurp
Cite this Entry
“Usurp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurp. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
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