Word
usurper
Phoneticsusurp·er
UK/juːzˈɜːpɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. someone who takes power or a position that does not rightfully belong to them, usually by force or unfair means.
n. a person who seizes power, a throne, or property without legal right, typically by force or deception.
Examples
“The usurper takes the throne by force.”
“The general enters the palace and declares himself king, but most people see him as a usurper.”
“History often paints the usurper as a villain, yet some seize power in chaos and later bring stability that people accept.”
Examples
simple
“The usurper takes the throne by force.”
contextual
“The general enters the palace and declares himself king, but most people see him as a usurper.”
complex
“History often paints the usurper as a villain, yet some seize power in chaos and later bring stability that people accept.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “usurper” in context.
Verb
01. defeat usurper
“Loyalist forces finally defeated the usurper at Bosworth Field.”
verb + noun
02. denounce usurper
“The clergy publicly denounced the usurper from every pulpit.”
verb + noun
03. depose usurper
“The council voted to depose the usurper and restore the exiled king.”
verb + noun
04. overthrow usurper
“Rebel generals united to overthrow the usurper within a year.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. ambitious usurper
“The ambitious usurper bribed the guards to open the palace gates.”
adj + noun
06. foreign usurper
“Nationalists refused to serve a foreign usurper imposed by invasion.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. fall of usurper
“The fall of the usurper brought wild celebrations in the streets.”
noun + prep + noun
08. reign of usurper
“The reign of the usurper lasted barely three brutal winters.”
noun + prep + noun
09. brand him as a usurper
“Parliament branded him as a usurper and declared his laws void.”
10. condemn the usurper's tyranny
“Intellectuals condemned the usurper's tyranny in pamphlets and sermons.”
11. expel the hated usurper
“The coalition invaded to expel the hated usurper from the palace.”
12. plot against the usurper
“Disgruntled nobles began to plot against the usurper in secret.”
Real-World Examples
“Above Harold sits Halley's Comet, with ghostlike invasion boats in the border below—a Norman framing of Harold as a doomed usurper whose betrayal invited destruction.” “All expressed scorn for the government of Putin whom Kara-Murza described as an illegitimate usurper.” Etymology
From Middle English usurper, usurpour, usurpur, from Middle French usurpeur; equivalent to usurp + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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