Sentence examples for were usurped from inspiring English sources
verb
To seize power from another, usually by illegitimate means.
This same coalition later forged the 1979 revolution, whose aspirations for democracy and the rule of law were usurped by agents of theocratic absolutism.
The Palestinians say that their national rights were usurped by an intruder; the Israelis that the Palestinians never accepted the Jewish right to self-determination.
Archaic primate forms from the Paleocene Epoch declined during the Eocene as many of their ecological niches were usurped by the more-efficient rodents.
When the Spanish were usurped by the British in 1655, they released many of their slaves, who, joined by thousands more runaway slaves, wreaked havoc on the Red Coat battalions for the next 140 years.
Remember how British GQ and British Esquire - the established, snooty, advertiser-worshipping titles - were usurped so quickly by the funny, reader-driven men's upstarts led by Loaded and FHM?
They were forced to postpone their opening three home games due to a jiggered pipe under the Kop, allowing QPR a healthy lead, but it was only a matter of time before the west London pretenders were usurped.
The bike stations were usurping parking spots — churches depend on street parking.
Mr. Matsui and other Democrats disputed that Republicans were usurping their signature issue.
Chavista legislators are calling for their arrest, saying they were usurping the electoral council's role by organising the primary.
"Our real position has been usurped.
