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
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of preempt
The Trump administration's lawsuit argued that the federal Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970 should preempt any California state laws related to eggs.
—
Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
The lawsuit, which also names Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state officials, contends that a 1970 federal law regulating egg quality and packaging preempts state laws that seek to impose additional requirements on egg production.
—Esther Sun, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
In Florida, where local governments are preempted from instituting sensible heat protections, workers are organizing to pressure employers to sign codes of conduct that protect their workforces.
—Terri Gerstein, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
The email went out before any public statement from the White House, suggesting an internal misstep that preempted a formal rollout of the nominees.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for preempt
Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
The lawsuit, which also names Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state officials, contends that a 1970 federal law regulating egg quality and packaging preempts state laws that seek to impose additional requirements on egg production.
—Esther Sun, Mercury News, 10 July 2025
In Florida, where local governments are preempted from instituting sensible heat protections, workers are organizing to pressure employers to sign codes of conduct that protect their workforces.
—Terri Gerstein, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
The email went out before any public statement from the White House, suggesting an internal misstep that preempted a formal rollout of the nominees.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for preempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempt
Verb
-
The agency seized another $17,000 from Dreamers Arcade, another casino tied to the case against Lopez and his co-defendants.—
Annie Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Aug. 2025
-
Leading a high-spending redistricting campaign that, if successful, helps Democrats seize the House would seemingly make Newsom a hero among the party faithful across the country.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Our science worship has usurped the God worship of previous centuries, but ultimately points to Old Testament outcomes: Apocalypse, holocaust, and the fascistic desire to dominate.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
-
But those who believe crypto IPOs will usurp altcoin projects are only seeing half of the picture.—
Charles Wayn,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
From 2022 through 2024, law enforcement officials in California confiscated 139,017 guns used in crimes with identifiable serial numbers, according to the DOJ’s crime guns report.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
12 July 2025
-
No charges have been pressed against Stone, but her family said her phone was confiscated.—
Joey Safchik,
NBC news,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Other exterior modifications, all of which have subtly been worked into the design, include side steps, grab handles to assist with entry and exit, mud flaps, a trunk liner, and a dog guard for the queen’s beloved pets.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Instead of paying for Microsoft 365 indefinitely or grabbing a new MacBook off the shelf, get a more affordable version of both.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In the pour, this hybridization results in a sweeter, fruitier nose – raspberry, banana and apricot steal top-notes from the underlying malt.—
Brad Japhe,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
-
The university's Davidge Hall once housed a small grayscale portrait of its namesake, dating to the 1800s, but that painting was stolen in the 1990s.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
28 July 2025
Verb
-
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) claimed responsibility in 2023 for a cyberattack on the Russian government civil aviation agency Rosaviatsiya.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
28 July 2025
-
But while water is, of course, needed to sustain populations, its unpredictability and tendency to flood can also claim lives.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
28 July 2025
Verb
-
The Mets converted Butto from a starter to a reliever last year with good results at first, but the right-hander struggled toward the end of the season and in the postseason.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
30 July 2025
-
Mitochondria, often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell, convert food into energy that the cell can use.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
30 July 2025
Verb
-
Wednesday is likely to be the first day of the week that is occupied by mostly cloudy skies throughout both the day and night.—
Matt Hubbard,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Aug. 2025
-
There was no guidance on how to handle things like the mortgage and utilities on a home occupied by a parent and children or how to handle automobile expenses for the parent who is driving their children to their activities.—
Wendy Hickey,
Boston Herald,
3 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempt. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share