land grab
noun
ˈlan(d)-ˌgrab 
variants or less commonly landgrab
: a usually swift acquisition of property (such as land or patent rights) often by fraud or force
land-grabber
ˈlan(d)-ˌgra-bər
noun 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Kyiv and the West call this a baseless pretext for an aggressive land grab. 
Reuters, NBC News, 24 July 2022 But Colorado Republicans have called it a federal land grab that would restrict development of critical mineral and energy resources. Steve Kiggins, USA TODAY, 27 Aug. 2022 Critics of the Russian church call it a spiritual land grab. Alan Cullison, WSJ, 31 July 2022 But the pandemic prompted a Western land grab, with moguls fleeing the cities for homes on the range. Karen Heller, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 In the last two years venture capitalists sunk nearly $8 billion into the six rapid delivery startups competing in New York City, encouraging fast growth and a land grab. Wired, 16 July 2022 Kyiv and its Western allies say the invasion is an unprovoked land grab. Reuters, CNN, 10 July 2022 Kyiv and the West say Russia is waging an unprovoked, imperial-style land grab in its fellow ex-Soviet republic, and accuse the invaders of war crimes, which Moscow has denied. Reuters, NBC News, 6 July 2022 Moscow’s first major land grab after its tanks and troops advanced from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia invaded and annexed in 2014. Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 29 June 2022 See More
Reuters, NBC News, 24 July 2022 But Colorado Republicans have called it a federal land grab that would restrict development of critical mineral and energy resources. Steve Kiggins, USA TODAY, 27 Aug. 2022 Critics of the Russian church call it a spiritual land grab. Alan Cullison, WSJ, 31 July 2022 But the pandemic prompted a Western land grab, with moguls fleeing the cities for homes on the range. Karen Heller, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 In the last two years venture capitalists sunk nearly $8 billion into the six rapid delivery startups competing in New York City, encouraging fast growth and a land grab. Wired, 16 July 2022 Kyiv and its Western allies say the invasion is an unprovoked land grab. Reuters, CNN, 10 July 2022 Kyiv and the West say Russia is waging an unprovoked, imperial-style land grab in its fellow ex-Soviet republic, and accuse the invaders of war crimes, which Moscow has denied. Reuters, NBC News, 6 July 2022 Moscow’s first major land grab after its tanks and troops advanced from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia invaded and annexed in 2014. Isabelle Khurshudyan, Washington Post, 29 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1860, in the meaning defined above