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Usurp

  1. verb

    seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession

    He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town

    Similar: assume, seize, take over, arrogate

  2. verb

    take the place of

    gloom had usurped mirth at the party after the news of the terrorist act broke

Word family

usurpation · usurped · usurping

Appears on

SAT vocabulary list · GRE vocabulary list