What is the opposite of “confiscate”?

What is the antonym of “confiscate”?

The antonyms of confiscate are return and give back. The antonyms return and give back convey the idea of giving something back to its rightful owner or returning it to its original place.

Brief Definitions of the Antonym(s)

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

return

To bring, give, or send something back to its original place or owner.

Example

After using the book for a week, she decided to return it to the library.

give back

To return something that belongs to someone else.

Example

He promised to give back the money he borrowed from his friend.

How are these antonyms different from each other?

• 1. Return implies bringing something back to its original place or owner, while give back emphasizes the act of returning something that belongs to someone else.
• 2. Return can be used in a broader sense, such as returning a favor or returning to a place, while give back is more specific to returning an object.

Good things to know

• 1. Legal Context: Use confiscate when referring to the seizure of property by law enforcement.
• 2. Everyday Conversation: Use return or give back when talking about returning borrowed items or giving something back to its rightful owner.

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Remember this!

The antonyms of confiscate are return and give back. While return implies bringing something back to its original place or owner, give back emphasizes the act of returning something that belongs to someone else. Use these words in legal contexts or everyday conversations to convey the idea of giving something back to its rightful owner or returning it to its original place.