co-opted; co-opting; co-opts
1
a
: to choose or elect as a member
members co-opted to the committee
b
: to appoint as a colleague or assistant
2
a
: to take into a group (such as a faction, movement, or culture) : absorb, assimilate
The students are co-opted by a system they serve even in their struggle against it.—
A. C. Danto
A. C. Danto
b
: take over, appropriate
a style co-opted by advertisers
Examples of co-opt in a Sentence
the national organization co-opted many formerly independent local groups
Recent Examples on the Web
The pages have co-opted the branding of hacktivist movement Anonymous, an ostensibly anti-establishment group of online activists and hackers that rose to prominence in the early 2000s.
—Meriem Mahdhi, WIRED, 1 Nov. 2024
Once again, Finch had fabricated a story that painted herself as both a victim and a selfless hero tending to the brother that mistreated her — as the documentary notes, there is no evidence this actually occurred — while simultaneously co-opting someone else’s pain.
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2024
For example, prompting AI to provide external evidence for X or Y, or find a convincing example or argument to impress key stakeholders, as well as generic coaching to improve one’s EQ, influence, and persuasion skills, means AI can easily be co-opted to upgrade and turbocharge one’s BS.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
At the same time, mainstream culture appears to be trying to co-opt elements of graffiti culture while severing any of the cultural context that comes from the work or the people.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for co-opt 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Meriem Mahdhi, WIRED, 1 Nov. 2024
Once again, Finch had fabricated a story that painted herself as both a victim and a selfless hero tending to the brother that mistreated her — as the documentary notes, there is no evidence this actually occurred — while simultaneously co-opting someone else’s pain.
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2024
For example, prompting AI to provide external evidence for X or Y, or find a convincing example or argument to impress key stakeholders, as well as generic coaching to improve one’s EQ, influence, and persuasion skills, means AI can easily be co-opted to upgrade and turbocharge one’s BS.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
At the same time, mainstream culture appears to be trying to co-opt elements of graffiti culture while severing any of the cultural context that comes from the work or the people.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for co-opt
Dictionary Entries Near co-opt
Cite this Entry
“Co-opt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/co-opt. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share