confiscate
4 synonyms and 2 antonyms for confiscate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To officially take away someone's property, often as a punishment or under legal authority.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use confiscate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
confiscate property
confiscate a weapon
goods were confiscated
Etymology
From Latin cōnfiscō, "to seize for the public treasury" (fiscus).
Full origin of confiscate →Frequently asked questions
What does “confiscate” mean?
The word “confiscate” means to officially take away someone's property, often as a punishment or under legal authority. In plain terms, to take something away from someone by force of authority, usually as a penalty.
How do you pronounce “confiscate”?
“Confiscate” is pronounced KON-fihs-kayt (/ˈkɑnfəˌskeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “confiscate” in a sentence?
Here is “confiscate” used in a sentence: “The teacher confiscated his phone during the exam.”
What part of speech is “confiscate”?
“Confiscate” is a verb.
Where does the word “confiscate” come from?
The word “confiscate” comes from Latin. From Latin cōnfiscō, "to seize for the public treasury" (fiscus).
