as in evicting
to end the occupancy or possession of
opponents of gentrification claim that the process unfairly dispossesses poorer residents of their long-established homes
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Recent Examples of dispossessing
Mandi was in control of the ball, going nowhere fast, and there was little prospect of dispossessing him from Messi’s position.
—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
How a state comes to control another land and its people, sometimes slowly dispossessing the natives of their lands, sometimes laying waste to them, sometimes committing genocide.
—
Philip Metres
august 27,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
How a state comes to control another land and its people, sometimes slowly dispossessing the natives of their lands, sometimes laying waste to them, sometimes committing genocide.
—
Philip Metres
august 27,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispossessing
Verb
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The ordinance would require landlords to provide a valid reason before evicting a tenant or declining to renew their lease.
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But in 2023, Kenya’s government began evicting them again, citing a new justification.
Verb
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Some employees also owe their employers a deeper fiduciary duty, which one court has described as the duty to protect the employer’s interests and to avoid injuring the employer or depriving the employer of the employee’s skills.
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Extreme heat is already a headache for many data centers, raising the chances electricity will go away, depriving customers of their sweet, sweet AI.
Verb
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Indeed, France recorded its hottest nights since records began in 1947, and in that context, many people are stripping down.
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Sydney Sweeney is welcoming summer by stripping down to her summer swimwear—and a timeless addition from her Syrn brand.
Verb
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In his view, the administration is effectively expropriating the decision-making power of owners and handing it to the state.
Cite this Entry
“Dispossessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispossessing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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