confiscatory

American  

[kuhn-fis-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / kənˈfɪs kəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. characterized by, effecting, or resulting in confiscation.

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confiscatory British  

/ kənˈfɪskətərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. involving confiscation

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Other Word Forms

• unconfiscatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of confiscatory

First recorded in 1790–1800; confiscate + -ory ¹

Example Sentences

But when added to the targeting, these considerations confirm that the California measure is confiscatory.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

They argue it is confiscatory and violates the regional government's autonomy, according to a lawyer's draft for the appeal seen by Reuters.

From Reuters • May 17, 2023

Billionaire Peter Thiel, a founder of PayPal, has publicly condemned "confiscatory taxes."

From Salon • Jun. 25, 2021

State law gives local governments remarkably broad leeway to seize the vehicles on their streets and tow them to public or private yards to rack up confiscatory storage and other fees.

From Washington Times • Jun. 5, 2019

A strike and its demands are usually praised as being law-abiding, or economically bearable, or are condemned as being unlawful, or confiscatory.

From An American Idyll The Life of Carleton H. Parker by Parker, Cornelia Stratton