they were confiscated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were confiscated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to items that have been taken away, usually by an authority, due to legal or regulatory reasons. Example: "The authorities found illegal substances in the vehicle, and as a result, they were confiscated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

They were confiscated and destroyed.

BBC

He said they were confiscated according to customs laws.

The New York Times

A few days later, they were confiscated by police.

The Guardian - Arts

They were great, but they were considered too dangerous to carry on an airplane, and they were confiscated.

The New York Times

Lady arriving in England from France with a considerable quantity of perfumes not only had to pay duty on them but they were confiscated as well.

The New Yorker

Strabo's account may be dealing with the personal writings that Aristotle had bequeathed to his successors as heads of the Lyceum, until they were confiscated by Sulla.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

In some parts of the country police are seizing as little as one tenth of the plants they were confiscating six years ago.

Vice

If they become a problem, they're confiscated.

The Guardian - Opinion

If they're confiscated three times, parents have to come and sign for them".

The Guardian

They are confiscated for the benefit of the German Reich and are at the disposal of the Reich Commissioner for the Strengthening of Germanism". C. Nature, Extent, and Value of Property Seized.

Yale University

Using such DNA tests to identify smuggled animals as soon as they are confiscated "can help the authorities establish stronger criminal cases against traffickers," Miyaki says.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were confiscated", ensure the context clearly indicates who performed the confiscation and why. This adds clarity and strengthens the sentence.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by specifying what "they" refers to. For example, instead of "They were confiscated", specify "The illegal firearms were confiscated by the police."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were confiscated" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a group of items or objects were the recipients of an action (confiscation). This construction is commonly used when the actor is unknown or less important than the object.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

18%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were confiscated" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase for indicating that items have been taken away, generally by an authority. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability in written English. The phrase appears frequently in news and media, often in a neutral register. Related phrases such as "they were seized" offer similar meanings. When using this phrase, it's best to specify what "they" refers to for better clarity. Remember that "confiscated" implies legal or regulatory reasons for the action, differentiating it from theft.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were seized

Replaces "confiscated" with a synonym, implying a forceful taking.

they were impounded

Suggests a taking into legal custody, often of vehicles or documents.

they were seized by authorities

Specifies that the action was carried out by an official body.

they were taken into custody

Implies a formal removal and holding, often by law enforcement.

they were forfeited

Indicates a loss of ownership due to wrongdoing or failure to meet obligations.

they were expropriated

Suggests the government took private property for public use.

they were requisitioned

Implies an official demand for use, often during wartime.

they were appropriated

Suggests the taking of something for one's own use, sometimes improperly.

they were commandeered

Implies a forced taking for immediate use, often temporary.

they were distrained

Indicates a seizure for debt.

FAQs

How can I use "they were confiscated" in a sentence?

Use "they were confiscated" to describe items taken by an authority due to a violation of rules or laws. For example, "The illegal substances "were confiscated" at the border."

What is a synonym for "they were confiscated"?

A close synonym is "they were seized", which also implies a forceful taking, often by an authority.

Is it correct to say "they were confiscated from me"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase "they were confiscated from me" indicates that the items were taken away from you by an authority. You can also consider using "they were seized from me".

What's the difference between "they were confiscated" and "they were stolen"?

"They were confiscated" implies a legal or regulatory basis for the taking, whereas "they were stolen" indicates an illegal act of theft.