The teacher confiscated all cell phones for the duration of the field trip.

Guards confiscated knives and other weapons from the prisoners.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Unlike the other candidates, who have advocated banning the further sale of assault weapons, O’Rourke’s plan involves confiscating such weapons under a forced buyback program. Tara Law, Time, "Beto O'Rourke's Bold Statement on Gun Control: 'Hell Yes' He Wants to Take Your AR-15," 13 Sep. 2019

Then, in December, the police came to confiscate the wildlife. Kirsten Luce, National Geographic, "How one Amazon community is trying to move on from illegal wildlife tourism," 15 Aug. 2019

When Wang’s grandmother visited, producers turned off playback monitors and Wang scrambled to confiscate T-shirts that bore Nai Nai’s name. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, "When a Lie Becomes Your Breakout Film," 14 July 2019

Despite the Klu Klux Klan's attempts to confiscate its pages, the Defender spread through the South. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "The ‘Chicago Defender,’ an Iconic Black Newspaper, to Release Its Last Print Issue," 9 July 2019

Navajo leaders and families fought the government, but in the end, many had their animals confiscated and sold, slaughtered or herded off canyon cliffs to their deaths. Betty Reid, azcentral, "To Chester Nez, last of the original Code Talkers, the words are more than a code," 29 Aug. 2019

Papineau and Wright then confiscated the fish and issued the extreme angler a ticket. Micah Walker, Detroit Free Press, "Gladwin fisherman caught with more than 1,400 panfish in garage," 22 Aug. 2019

The law punishes aid vessels entering Italian waters, allowing officials to confiscate them and impose million-euro fines on captains who defy the law. New York Times, "After Desperate Migrants Jump Ship, Italy Allows Rescue Vessel to Dock," 20 Aug. 2019

Drugs will be confiscated and then the person will be paired with a CCAR counselor. Steve Smith, courant.com, "Rockville Hospital, Police Partner To Treat Addiction," 8 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'confiscate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.