1
as in seized
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
archaeologists wrongfully appropriated artifacts excavated at ancient sites for their museums
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in stole
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
you can't just appropriate somebody's term paper and put your name on it!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of appropriated
Cohen is careful not to let enthusiasm for the science bleed into endorsement of the wellness industry that has appropriated it.
—
Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
The administration has refused to spend money Congress has appropriated, like for foreign aid, and has spent money that Congress has not appropriated, like to pay DHS employees despite a shutdown.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
The symbols were easily appropriated for marketing by roadside vendors but weren’t indicative of the separate and distinct Native American cultures in the area.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
That money is appropriated annually by Congress, where there is widespread support for the alliance.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
By state law, the legislature is supposed to fund 92% of those excess costs, but since 2011, the legislature has not appropriated enough to reach that mark.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Attorneys for the federal government were only able to file a motion to reopen the case once Congress appropriated Justice Department funds.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2026
But Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said in a statement to The Bee that the legal expenses more than paid for themselves when the state won back $188 billion in money that Congress had appropriated, but the administration was withholding.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Because the fee revenue is appropriated by Congress and most of it is not considered mandatory spending, TSA does not have control of the money.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
The administration has refused to spend money Congress has appropriated, like for foreign aid, and has spent money that Congress has not appropriated, like to pay DHS employees despite a shutdown.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
The symbols were easily appropriated for marketing by roadside vendors but weren’t indicative of the separate and distinct Native American cultures in the area.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
That money is appropriated annually by Congress, where there is widespread support for the alliance.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
By state law, the legislature is supposed to fund 92% of those excess costs, but since 2011, the legislature has not appropriated enough to reach that mark.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Attorneys for the federal government were only able to file a motion to reopen the case once Congress appropriated Justice Department funds.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 24 Mar. 2026
But Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said in a statement to The Bee that the legal expenses more than paid for themselves when the state won back $188 billion in money that Congress had appropriated, but the administration was withholding.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Because the fee revenue is appropriated by Congress and most of it is not considered mandatory spending, TSA does not have control of the money.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appropriated
Verb
-
Authorities also seized multiple weapons, ammunition and explosive devices, the military said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Some vessels with links to Iran made attempts to move through the strait, but others are staying away after Iran attacked three ships with gunfire earlier this week and seized two more.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That Derby was won by War Emblem, a small-boned speedball who stole the race on the front end after having been sold by his geriatric owner to Saudi Arabian Prince Ahmed bin Salman for $900,000 three weeks before.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Marlins opened the scoring in the second inning when Agustin Ramirez was hit on the left wrist by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on an Ohtani throwing error and scored on a sacrifice fly from Caissie.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cemetery officials confiscated the notes and film of the two reporters, saying reporters needed permission to visit the cemetery.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Israeli police have for years confiscated Palestinian flags from Palestinians, accusing them of disturbing the peace.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ellison acknowledged that the meeting itself took place at LifeTime Work’s coworking space, which houses the corporate offices of ThinkTechAct Foundation, a company that misappropriated millions of dollars in child nutrition money.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The investigation, supported by an audit by Arkansas Legislative Audit, determined Hulen misappropriated $2,210 in court fine payments while employed as the court clerk.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
21 Mar. 2026
-
In other words, the apparatus that became the modern movie camera, up until digital technology usurped the role that film cameras played in capturing the first 100 years of filmmaking.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 22-year-old center fielder swiped a career-high four bases in yet another busy day in low Single-A Lake Elsinore’s 13-6 win over visiting Visalia on Thursday.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Charlotte Tilbury Products Used on Emily Blunt Makeup artist Jenn Streicher swiped Emily Blunt’s lashes with the Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara for the world premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hungarians demonstrated that a moment of divisiveness can be converted into a moment of collective agency.—
Steven P. Dinkin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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The oldest bookstore on our list, Baldwin’s Book Barn in western Pennsylvania, was built in 1822 as a farmhouse before William and Lilla Baldwin converted it into the permanent home of their then-roaming bookselling business in 1946.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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William Cruz, 49, of Carteret, NJ, was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian causing injury and failure to exercise due care for the fatal crash that claimed Jenny Maribel Chacho Sanchez on April 17.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
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In 2013, Lozzi stood outside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to protest a screening of the HBO film Phil Spector and claimed the project implied Clarkson had committed suicide.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appropriated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appropriated. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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