distrain
/dɪˈstreɪn/
verb
- To legally take someone's property in order to force them to pay a debt.
- The landlord decided to distrain the tenant's furniture after three months of unpaid rent.
- The court allowed the company to distrain assets from the business that owed them money.
- Under the law, a creditor may distrain goods from a debtor who refuses to pay.
Synonyms