Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb co-opt

4 senses of co-opt

Sense 1
co-opt -- (choose or elect as a fellow member or colleague; "The church members co-opted individuals from similar backgrounds to replenish the congregation")
       => elect -- (select by a vote for an office or membership; "We elected him chairman of the board")

Sense 2
co-opt -- (neutralize or win over through assimilation into an established group; "We co-opted the independent minority tribes by pulling them into the Northern Alliance")
       => neutralize -- (make politically neutral and thus inoffensive; "The treaty neutralized the small republic")

Sense 3
co-opt -- (appoint summarily or commandeer; "The army tried to co-opt peasants into civil defence groups")
       => appoint, name, nominate, constitute -- (create and charge with a task or function; "nominate a committee")

Sense 4
co-opt -- (take or assume for one's own use; "He co-opted the criticism and embraced it")
       => take, accept -- (make use of or accept for some purpose; "take a risk"; "take an opportunity")