usurp

verb

yu̇-ˈsərp How to pronounce usurp (audio)
Definition of usurpnext
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

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 usurp The head coach foresaw a transition taking place over a 12-to-18-month period, whereby Trafford would eventually usurp Pope, now 34. — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Jason Speaking of football-loving families, the Kelces seem to have usurped the Mannings for the sport’s first family. — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026 The 6-foot-6, 308-pounder was at Wisconsin from 2020-24 before finishing at Illinois last season and entering the 49ers’ defensive-line rotation this season, perhaps even usurping Alfred Collins in the starting lineup next to Osa Odighizuwa. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2026 After Davis’ single appearance, Anne Baxter would step in as the matriarch of the series (as a new character), an ironic echo of Baxter’s Eve ambitiously attempting to usurp Davis’ Margo in the classic All About Eve. — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for usurp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurp
  1. seize
  2. confiscate
  3. steal
  4. grab
  5. occupy
  6. convert
Verb
  • The continent’s political leaders must seize the moment to act, and not let this moment of Europtimism slide.
    — Sophie Dembinski, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The latest conflict between the Saudis and the Houthis began last month after the rebels seized key areas along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical waterway for oil shipments.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of seize
Verb
  • Police confiscated the robot and two cell phones belonging to the suspects.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The robot and the two young men's mobile phones were confiscated.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of confiscate
Verb
  • Pike committed the crime over an intense romantic jealousy of Slemmer, who allegedly attempted to steal her boyfriend’s attention.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Related Articles The paintings, Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano and Femme au puits (Woman at the Well), were stolen from the Musée Renoir in Cagnes-sur-Mer on September 8.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of steal
Verb
  • Ditto for the reinterpretation of thong sandals that grabbed attention at Givenchy and Jean Paul Gaultier, or the clear vinyl-like styles seen at Balenciaga, Chloé, Simone Rocha, Stella McCartney and Moschino, among others.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Mel Ismail, a 56-year-old father, was rescued by another surfer who just happened to show up at the beach and was willing to risk his own life by grabbing his board and heading towards the bloody water.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of grab
Verb
  • Now in its third modern iteration, the Carrera T occupies a uniquely appealing space within the 911 family.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Protesters have broken into schools and, in some cases, set fire to occupied or blockaded buildings.
    — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of occupy
Verb
  • That means the Heat will need to choose whether to convert one of its Exhibit 10 contract players to a two-way deal or waive them to transition them to its G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Swiss company Metafuels is working to convert clean electricity into jet fuel, while RIFT and Enerin, based in the Netherlands and Norway respectively, are delivering high-temperature industrial heat from electrons instead of gas.
    — Sophie Dembinski, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of convert

Browse Nearby Words

usuals
usurp
usurpation
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Cite this Entry

“Usurp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurp. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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