Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb usurp

2 senses of usurp

Sense 1
assume, usurp, seize, take over, arrogate -- (seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession; "He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town"; "he usurped my rights"; "She seized control of the throne after her husband died")
       => take -- (take by force; "Hitler took the Baltic Republics"; "The army took the fort on the hill")

Sense 2
usurp -- (take the place of; "gloom had usurped mirth at the party after the news of the terrorist act broke")
       => supplant, replace, supersede, supervene upon, supercede -- (take the place or move into the position of; "Smith replaced Miller as CEO after Miller left"; "the computer has supplanted the slide rule"; "Mary replaced Susan as the team's captain and the highest-ranked player in the school")