seize power
Take control forcibly
To seize power is to take control of a government or organization by force or decisive action rather than through legitimate succession.
The phrase implies sudden, often violent transfer of authority: The military seized power in a coup, Revolutionaries seized power after the king fled.
It can apply to corporate or institutional contexts: The board seized power from the founding family.
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- military coupArmed seizure of government
- overthrowForcible removal from power
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- armed revoltViolent rebellion against authority
uprising · usurp · dictator · throne · rebellion · junta · topple · tyrant · mutiny · depose · takeover · hostile takeover · insurrection · crown · marshal · decree · strongman · putsch
- takeovertakeover, take over, coup d'etat, hostile takeover, usurp
- coupscoup d'etat, overthrow, coup attempt, soft coup, failed coup