co-opt
Claim for yourself
To co-opt is to absorb or take over something for your own purposes.
A movement co-opts members from rival groups.
A corporation co-opts rebellious imagery to sell products.
The word often carries a negative connotation—suggesting that something authentic or oppositional has been neutralized by being adopted into the mainstream: The establishment co-opted their message.
Less critically, co-opt can simply mean to appoint someone to a committee or group by the choice of existing members rather than by election.
Render harmless
- disarmRemove capacity to harm
- undermineWeaken by stealth
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- placateLessen someone's anger
appease · mollify · silence · pacify · blunt · weaken · dilute · compromise
Seize without right
- appropriateSuited to circumstance
- commandeerSeize for official purposes
- hijackSeize a moving vehicle
- seizeTake suddenly, forcibly
capture · annexation · expropriation · preempt · supplant · divert · subvert · encroachment
Choose by vote
- appointAssign to office
- voteFormal choice expression
- nominatePropose as candidate
- caucusParty selection meeting
delegate · committee · board · council · selection · appointment · induct · install
Absorb and incorporate fully
- incorporateAbsorb into something larger
- absorbTake in fully
- integrateCombine into unified whole
- subsumeAbsorb into broader category
engulf · swallow · annex · merge · consolidate · amalgamate · fold in · bring in
defuse
Render harmless
- disarmRemove capacity to harm
- undermineWeaken by stealth
- neutralizeCancel an effect
placate · appease · mollify · silence · pacify · blunt · weaken · dilute · compromise · soften
usurp
Seize without right
- appropriateSuited to circumstance
- commandeerSeize for official purposes
- hijackSeize a moving vehicle
seize · capture · annexation · expropriation · preempt · supplant · divert · subvert · encroachment · infringement
elect
Choose by vote
caucus · delegate · committee · board · council · selection · appointment · induct · install · designate
assimilate
Absorb and incorporate fully
- incorporateAbsorb into something larger
- absorbTake in fully
- integrateCombine into unified whole
subsume · engulf · swallow · annex · merge · consolidate · amalgamate · fold in · bring in · take in
manipulate
Control through clever influence
weaponize · pervert · corrupt · distort · twist · misappropriate · repurpose · capitalize · harness · channel
co-optliberate
Set free from captivity
emancipate · free · release · empower · leave alone
coop, cooperative, coopt, coopted, coopts, coopting, cooption