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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Recent Examples of preempt
Trump uses executive orders to preempt state laws.
—
Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
Mississippi officials have argued that the state law is not preempted, while the RNC has urged the high court to strike down the Magnolia State’s law, along with similar ones in other states, as unlawful.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
The council instructed planners to release acreage currently earmarked for annexation back to Ada County, preempting future requests to incorporate the land into Boise for development.
—Mark Dee
january 27, Idaho Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026
The law preempts state litigation.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preempt
Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
Mississippi officials have argued that the state law is not preempted, while the RNC has urged the high court to strike down the Magnolia State’s law, along with similar ones in other states, as unlawful.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
The council instructed planners to release acreage currently earmarked for annexation back to Ada County, preempting future requests to incorporate the land into Boise for development.
—Mark Dee
january 27, Idaho Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026
The law preempts state litigation.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempt
Verb
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Iran seizes 2 ships on smuggling claims DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Iran seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, state television reported, claiming the vessels had been smuggling fuel.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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Leavitt turns the tables on media outrage as FBI seizes Fulton election documents.—
,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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New deals this season will boost already booming commercial income, not least a kit manufacturing agreement with Adidas that is expected to usurp the money brought in from the previous Nike deal.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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He is now engaged in an ongoing insurrection by violating the Constitution, exceeding his lawful authorities, usurping Congress, and encouraging Republican states to manipulate voting districts and procedures.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The next day, authorities confiscated more than 50,000 vapes and displayed them in Mexico City’s central square.—
María Verza,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
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Now the city wants more tools to expand its limited enforcement options, which would start with warnings, then fines and may include confiscating food, equipment and carts found in violation of city ordinance and health codes.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The bottom-line mandate for the Bruins on Monday night was to grab two points against the worst team in the Eastern Conference.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
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On January 13, in a win over the Chicago Bulls, Davison played 24 minutes, scoring 9 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists.—
Rahat Huq,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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His coverage of a man whose identity was stolen for more than 25 years caught the judge’s eye.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
6 Feb. 2026
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Besides worries about spending by Big Tech companies, which are Wall Street's most influential stocks, concerns about AI potentially stealing customers from software companies also hurt the market.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit claims Saint Ann’s leadership was alerted twice in early 2024 that explicit images of young girls were circulating among students on Snapchat but failed to notify police or intervene beyond internal meetings.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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The scammer claims to be on an oil rig or in a war zone (but rotating home soon) or is otherwise unreachable in person.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While scientists have long observed this liquid-to-solid transformation, the exact molecular link that converts these fluid droplets into a high-performance final structure has remained a mystery until now.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
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By converting up to two of those players, the Heat can create multiyear contracts with only minimum initial guarantees, affording team control beyond this season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The restaurant has occupied the space for decades, sits steps from the ski lifts in Vail Village, and is a local favorite for skiers, tourists and locals alike.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Bonhams occupies what’s defined as the mid-range market, mostly offering lots priced between $50,000 to $1 million, while the top three — Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Phillips — court sellers and buyers at the vertiginous top end.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempt. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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