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 former alleged that the latter co-opted a Rippling employee to spy on its comms channels to look out for signs of customers switching away from Deel.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
At various times in the country’s history, efforts to question the effects of such an ethos have invariably been co-opted by those wishing to defend the accumulation of wealth.
—Jeffery Vacante, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025
Unlike other labels that are often co-opted by organizations to upcharge for specific identities (see: corporate America’s use of Women’s History Month), brands generally haven’t bothered to cater to fat bodies in their marketing.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2025
Meli's critique extends to modern feminism, too, which some of her subscribers commented had been co-opted by capitalist ideals that pressure women to work constantly.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for co-opt
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Thomas Brewster, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
At various times in the country’s history, efforts to question the effects of such an ethos have invariably been co-opted by those wishing to defend the accumulation of wealth.
—Jeffery Vacante, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025
Unlike other labels that are often co-opted by organizations to upcharge for specific identities (see: corporate America’s use of Women’s History Month), brands generally haven’t bothered to cater to fat bodies in their marketing.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 Mar. 2025
Meli's critique extends to modern feminism, too, which some of her subscribers commented had been co-opted by capitalist ideals that pressure women to work constantly.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for co-opt
Cite this Entry
“Co-opt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/co-opt. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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