usurped
Americanadjective
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seized by force or without legal right.
When Edward IV deposed Henry VI, some saw it as a providential restoration of the usurped throne to the lawful heirs of Richard II.
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deprived of something forcibly or without legal right.
The peasants and other members of the usurped communities have been forced to work as peons in the land that previously belonged to them.
-
used or employed without authority or right; used wrongfully.
Exploitation of usurped or counterfeited web content is punishable by criminal law.
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of usurped
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A collection of trade groups representing banks and credit unions quickly sued, arguing it usurped banks’ rights under federal law.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
Ultimately, society’s ingrained fear of missing out on making money will be usurped by the fear of losing money.
From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026
After being the superior McLaren driver on balance in 2024, that position was usurped by Piastri from the start of this season.
From BBC • Jun. 29, 2025
In 2023, according to Guiness, a farmer in Quebec usurped Cool Patch for the title to world’s largest maze.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2024
And then chaos usurped with his animal junto.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
