as in to seize
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
the thoughtless teenagers had preempted front-row seats that were reserved for the guests of honor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preempt
Perhaps the most controversial provision would preempt state laws governing model development for three years, which critics argue would strip states of their ability to enact stronger AI safety rules.
—
Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 4 June 2026
The next month, as state legislators sought to preempt the city, Meiner and several city commissioners led a press conference outside the historic hotel, urging lawmakers to change course.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
The Giants tried to preempt any reporters’ inquiries with the team’s version of the story that the Giants are moving on.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026
The Weird and Wild column had to be preempted by other programming these last couple of weeks.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for preempt
Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 4 June 2026
The next month, as state legislators sought to preempt the city, Meiner and several city commissioners led a press conference outside the historic hotel, urging lawmakers to change course.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
The Giants tried to preempt any reporters’ inquiries with the team’s version of the story that the Giants are moving on.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026
The Weird and Wild column had to be preempted by other programming these last couple of weeks.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for preempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempt
Verb
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Aemond was named Prince Regent in the aftermath, and seized control of the Iron Throne while Aegon recovered.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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Federal customs officials at Washington Dulles Airport seized 139 pounds of Ethiopian khat, a plant chewed for its amphetamine-like effect, that was destined for Sacramento.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in March upheld a complaint by Ukraine that Russia’s chess federation had usurped control of the game in areas of Ukraine captured by the Russian military.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
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The two are separate, Bourne writes, even if, in war, the state tries to usurp the country and speak for it.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Local residents and business owners said Israeli forces had later returned to the area and confiscated all CCTV recordings.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
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But any noise-making devices such as vuvuzelas, air horns and whistles will be confiscated.—
Laurence Miedema,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Grant asks Chris about the boxing gloves now for sale in the night store, but Katie forestalls him by running over and grabbing them, nearly flattening Chris.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
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Demonstrators grabbed bricks from the ground to throw at police, as tear gas was deployed in Geneva's streets, witnesses told Reuters.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Bald eagle are also known to scavenge for food and carrion, even stealing from other hunting birds mid-flight.—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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The show was canceled that year, after Mencia was accused of stealing material from other comedians.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Earlier this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that his forces had captured a Russian position using only drones and robots for the first time, and had conducted more than 22,000 unmanned ground missions using robots in just the first three months of 2026.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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The lawsuit claims a correctional officer assigned to protect the woman stood by as an inmate followed her into a freezer and pulled a weapon.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
Verb
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McTominay, whose iconic bicycle kick against Denmark was the defining goal of Scotland’s World Cup qualifying campaign, threatened multiple times past the 80th minute but couldn’t convert.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
20 June 2026
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That has put a focus on Iran’s stockpile of uranium and its program to convert this naturally occurring element into material that can sustain a nuclear reaction — a process called enrichment.—
Adithi Ramakrishnan,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Verb
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Fahed Rahal said soccer occupies a unique place within Algerian culture, serving as a source of identity and connection across generations.—
J.M. Banks
June 15,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
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Siebel Newsom, 51, has occupied a higher profile position compared to spouses of other state leaders.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempt. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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