co-opted

Definition of co-optednext
past tense of co-opt

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 co-opted Carnival has been co-opted by—and used to promote the philosophies of—various movements, from the Protestant Reformation to National Socialism. Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2026 But invariably, these calls are co-opted by conservatives to demonize those on the short end of the stick. Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026 But vigilante movements in Mexico historically get co-opted by rival cartels or massacred, creating a dangerous spiral that could worsen after recent cartel leadership deaths. Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026 Loosen up, and be patriotic without fear that something like the American flag or Pledge of Allegiance has been co-opted by conservatives. Meg Kinnard, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026 Rebellion is co-opted into pro-capitalism sloganeering. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2026 This time, instead of pulling out another clever weapon, Peter walks straight towards his partner, insisting that Hagan has co-opted him for a dirty cause. Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 19 Feb. 2026 New Balance is no stranger to having its running footwear co-opted as lifestyle sneakers by style-savvy consumers, but basketball shoes are a far tougher egg to crack — and that goes for any brand. Riley Jones, Footwear News, 5 Feb. 2026 And it’s only gotten harder, because in America our current government has quite purposefully and cynically co-opted a lot of conspiratorial thinking to muddy the waters to further their own cultural and political project. Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for co-opted
Verb
  • VoCoVo said the technology is integrated into its award-winning Series 5 Pro Headset and was developed in direct response to feedback from a global retail customer base.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 28 Apr. 2026
  • In 2018, staffers succeeded in pushing Google to abandon a Pentagon program that would have integrated its AI into drone operations.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Sound mitigation measures — including berms and acoustic treatment — would be incorporated to control noise levels, and exterior lighting would be shielded and directed downward to prevent glare or spillover into surrounding properties.
    Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Long before European arrival, Indigenous peoples across what is now the United States recognized the plant by its distinctive aroma and incorporated it into systems of medicine.
    Kari Traylor, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The growth of colonial Australian society came at the expense of the Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who were often dispossessed of their land, exposed to foreign diseases, and either pushed into marginal areas or forcibly assimilated into European culture.
    Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
  • His steely aide-de-camp, Mauricio Corredor (also based on a historical figure), is of Rarámuri heritage but has assimilated into Mexican culture.
    Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Co-opted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/co-opted. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster