Thesaurus results for USURPING

usurping

verb

present participle of usurp

as in seizing

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 usurping Last year, netizens coined a new term to reflect our growing disdain for AI bots slowly usurping our human agency. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 26 Aug. 2026 In this way, the tech is being used to elevate human intelligence, rather than usurping it. — William Jones, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 Eggers made his name by deriding, and then usurping, the literary establishment, in the process defying the tired binary of pure artist versus sellout. — Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026 The opposition’s narrative that Hollywood is usurping home rule is entirely backward. — Keith Poliakoff, Sun Sentinel, 1 June 2026 But even with the UFC’s challenges, no rival promotion has come close to usurping the sport’s power dynamic. — Mark Puleo, New York Times, 21 May 2026 Hegseth and Feinberg, Phelan said, had imposed rigid control over submarine and shipbuilding decisions, effectively usurping the Navy’s authority, these people said. — Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 2 May 2026 One wonders how long the citizens of those communities are going to put up with the state usurping their authority to govern themselves. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026 This would seem to challenge the notion that AI usurping human skills will democratize them—for instance, by broadening who is able to contribute meaningfully to math’s advancement. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for usurping

Verb

Their demands for records mirror a New Mexico lawsuit and whistleblower claims that agents were ordered to stand down instead of seizing hundreds of thousands of lethal pills.

— Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Since seizing power, Tiani’s government has shifted away from Western partners, deepened ties with Russia and broken with the regional ECOWAS bloc, joining Mali and Burkina Faso to form the breakaway AES bloc.

— Reuters, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of seizing

Verb

Moments before, with Wells still at the plate and the Yankees leading 7-1, Flemming and color analyst Will Middlebrooks vented about Chisholm stealing second base and third base during the at-bat.

— Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
After spending 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean is being released a hardened man.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of stealing

Verb

And confiscating them would be legally and diplomatically more complicated than simply freezing them.

— Magdalena Del Valle, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Vendors said enforcement sweeps that began earlier this year have threatened their livelihoods, with authorities confiscating vending equipment and, in some cases, destroying it.

— Da Lin, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of confiscating

Verb

Two men bought tickets to enter Vienna's Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) before smashing a display case, grabbing a 200-carat platinum and diamond necklace and walking away, police said Friday.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
In the commercial, Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark rushes over to his golf bag and pushes over golfer Alexis Miestowski to keep her from grabbing the Quantum Driver.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of grabbing

Verb

The alerts have piled up, with cyclospora occupying much of the attention this year, as the parasitic infection gave explosive diarrhea to people in 48 states.

— Dian Zhang, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
The Ulta shop had expanded to 610 Target stores, each occupying about 1,000 square feet.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of occupying

Verb

The Cowboys did that last year after initial roster cuts, claiming cornerbacks Reddy Steward and Trikweze Bridges off waivers.

— Jon Machota, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
That combination—a hard deadline six years out and a Congress that can’t agree on next steps—is precisely what Shedden says is pushing clients toward the exits early, even though claiming at 62 locks in a permanently smaller monthly check for life.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of claiming

Verb

Stars such as Renate Reinsve and Mads Mikkelsen, major festival prizes and awards-season visibility remain powerful assets, while local festivals and territory-specific marketing can be just as decisive in converting prestige into admissions.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
About $2 billion is being invested in modernizing and converting spaces in center city.

— Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of converting

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“Usurping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usurping. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of usurping

verb

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