1
as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
dissidents were shot, and their lands expropriated under his regime
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to evict
to end the occupancy or possession of
the state will have to expropriate scores of homeowners in order to build the new road
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to confiscate
to take ownership or control of (something) by right of one's authority
plans by the city to expropriate entire blocks of houses in order to bulldoze them for expansion of the airport
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expropriate
The facilities, some of which were built by Havana Docks, had been expropriated without compensation in 1960.
—
Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
This time, Trump took issue with a new law by which the government could expropriate white farmers’ unused property.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 1 June 2025
The White minority that had subjugated and ruled the Black majority after expropriating their land, herding them into poor Bantustans and profiting from their cheap labor, would yield to democracy and a new constitution that would grant the right to vote to all South Africans.
—Lydia Polgreen, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
The United States and European countries had their investments in railroads, mines, and oil infrastructure in Mexico after Mexico expropriated them both outright and through regulator changes.
—Allison Carnegie, Foreign Affairs, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for expropriate
Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
This time, Trump took issue with a new law by which the government could expropriate white farmers’ unused property.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 1 June 2025
The White minority that had subjugated and ruled the Black majority after expropriating their land, herding them into poor Bantustans and profiting from their cheap labor, would yield to democracy and a new constitution that would grant the right to vote to all South Africans.
—Lydia Polgreen, Mercury News, 27 May 2025
The United States and European countries had their investments in railroads, mines, and oil infrastructure in Mexico after Mexico expropriated them both outright and through regulator changes.
—Allison Carnegie, Foreign Affairs, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for expropriate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expropriate
Verb
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The Revolutionary Guard holds vast business interest across Iran, and sanctions could allow its assets in Europe to be seized.—
SAM McNEIL AND JON GAMBRELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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Gabbard was photographed in Fulton County on the day of the raid as the FBI seized 2020 election ballots.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When the movie begins, Murphy and his daughter (Avy Berry) can barely eke out a living, evicted from their squalid pad and then separated once Murphy is arrested.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
29 Jan. 2026
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Others abused the hospitality, & winded up having to actually be evicted from the property.—
Cheyenne Derksen,
Oklahoman,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The next day, authorities confiscated more than 50,000 vapes and displayed them in Mexico City’s central square.—
María Verza,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
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Now the city wants more tools to expand its limited enforcement options, which would start with warnings, then fines and may include confiscating food, equipment and carts found in violation of city ordinance and health codes.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And though preseason predictions pegged Marty Supreme as Gwyneth Paltrow’s big Oscar comeback, Odessa A’zion’s performance as a girlfriend with gumption has usurped the Goopster’s buzz.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
21 Jan. 2026
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Trump has usurped Capitol Hill's Constitutional powers on spending money and waging war.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Instead, hospitals allow immigration officers to call the shots on how much — if any — contact is allowed, which can deprive patients of their constitutional right to seek legal advice and leave them vulnerable to abuse, attorneys said.—
Claudia Boyd-Barrett,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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Scientists had long known that depriving mice of vitamin A caused infertility; the challenge was finding a safe, targeted way of inhibiting it.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Around 2015, upstarts like Chobani or BodyArmor began stealing market share from legacy brands.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
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Another alleged member of the Latin Kings was charged in federal court in the District of Minnesota this month with being a felon in possession of a firearm and theft of government property after breaking into an FBI vehicle and stealing a rifle.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There were similar cheers for when Gyokeres was dispossessed in the first half, with the Arsenal forward doubled up on in the corner and unable to escape with the ball, while Anderson’s tackle on Odegaard received a similar reaction from the home crowd.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2026
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Black people and other non-white South Africans were displaced and dispossessed.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
20 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The bottom-line mandate for the Bruins on Monday night was to grab two points against the worst team in the Eastern Conference.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
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On January 13, in a win over the Chicago Bulls, Davison played 24 minutes, scoring 9 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists.—
Rahat Huq,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expropriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expropriate. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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