usurper

[yoo-sur-per, -zur‐]

noun

1. someone who seizes an office or position of power by force or without legal right, or who is perceived to have done so.

   The usurper Vitigis gathered his army together and laid siege to Rome.

Word History and Origins

Origin of usurper¹

First recorded in 1400–50; usurp ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

To achieve this, they need “the cooperation of the free world and our democratic allies to help neutralize and dismantle the narco-terrorist usurpers.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Last Sunday, Trump went even further when he shared a conspiracy theory that President Biden was a clone, i.e., not a real person, a type of Manchurian candidate, and thus an illegitimate president and usurper.

Read more on Salon

The Houthis say they now want "to pressure the Israeli usurper entity to reopen the crossings to the Gaza Strip and allow the entry of aid, including food and medical supplies".

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“When Paul played it to me at Abbey Road, I thought ‘I’m a usurper here; my dad should be around,’” Martin said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One of Shakespeare's famous tragedies, the story follows Prince Hamlet, who is encouraged by his father's ghost to avenge his death by killing his uncle, the usurper of the throne.

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Related Words

• authoritarian 
• autocrat 
• commander 
• despot 
• totalitarian 
• tyrant