preempted

verb

past tense of preempt
as in seized
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

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 preempted This is one of numerous cases in which judges must decide whether state laws are preempted by federal regulation of prediction markets. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026 In February 2025, a state appeals court upheld the jury’s verdict, ruling that Missouri’s laws requiring companies to warn of dangers are not preempted by federal law. — Sarah J. Morath, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 The plaintiffs argued that the provisions violated or were preempted by the National Voting Registration Act, as well as a 2018 consent decree between Arizona's secretary of state and the Maricopa County recorder. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 29 June 2026 Trump’s lawyers said federal law preempted or overrode the state law. — Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 The complaint argues that the Kansas law is preempted by federal statute, citing two 1996 laws that limit what public benefits undocumented immigrants can receive. — Matthew Kelly updated June 25, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026 Those claims are now preempted by federal law. — Diana Novak Jones, USA Today, 25 June 2026 Felicis preempted the round which brought Runlayer’s total capital raised to $42 million. — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 24 June 2026 The industry argued that New York’s public nuisance law is preempted by the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, enacted by Congress in 2005. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempted
  1. seized
  2. claimed
  3. confiscated
  4. usurped
  5. occupied
  6. grabbed
  7. assumed
  8. appropriated
Verb
  • Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who voted against the proposal in mid-June, voiced fears that the list of noncitizen voters would immediately be seized by federal immigration authorities.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Russia’s military on Saturday claimed to have seized the city of Kostiantynivka, a key defensive hub in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.
    — Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of seized
Verb
  • Attorneys for the owners of the landfill, which stopped accepting trash last year, claimed this spring in the litigation that the lawsuits may be tainted by fraud.
    — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
  • The lefty reliever whom the Cubs claimed off waivers in January is now one of the club’s success stories.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of claimed
Verb
  • In a case about Cuban property that was confiscated by Fidel Castro’s government more than 65 years ago, Kagan was the only justice to rule against the property owners.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • Smashed and confiscated Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have ordered government employees, judges, police and members of the military to stop using smartphones under a directive that took effect June 16.
    — Fatima Faizi, NPR, 10 July 2026
Definition of confiscated
Verb
  • The update indicated that Maersk is set to fall behind CMA CGM for second-largest container shipping capacity worldwide by July 2027, while Hapag-Lloyd could be usurped by Ocean Network Express (ONE) in February 2028.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
  • Congress’s celebration, planned for a decade, has been usurped by the president’s celebration, funded by private donors and featuring a political speech by himself.
    — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Definition of usurped
Verb
  • Since launching in 2019, the fair has occupied both the hotel’s poolside cabanas and suites on the upper floors.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 14 July 2026
  • Though the wartime narrative appears to be swinging somewhat in Ukraine's favor, the country's cities remain under near-constant fire and Kyiv's forces do not appear able to liberate significant territory still occupied by Russian troops.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Definition of occupied
Verb
  • The victim followed the fleeing Jeep on foot and grabbed onto the vehicle when it got stuck in traffic, authorities said.
    — Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 16 July 2026
  • In September 2020, author Elin Hilderbrand grabbed a drink at the Nantucket Hotel bar with a visiting writer friend.
    — Clarissa Cruz, Entertainment Weekly, 16 July 2026
Definition of grabbed
Verb
  • Alex Lange has assumed the closer’s role as the season has progressed.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
  • Illnesses from the parasite are assumed to be an undercount since many people who get cyclosporiasis, which causes unrelenting diarrhea, cramping and bloating, may be embarrassed to see a doctor or may try to wait out their symptoms at home.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
Definition of assumed
Verb
  • Sununu, who formerly served as governor of New Hampshire, urged Congress to find more money to overhaul the air traffic control system — on top of the billions lawmakers appropriated last year to upgrade communications and radar equipment.
    — Joel Rose, NPR, 1 July 2026
  • The Legislature appropriated $5 million in one-time funding, so next year, lawmakers will have to decide whether to allocate additional money.
    — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2026
Definition of appropriated

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Cite this Entry

“Preempted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempted. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on preempted

Nglish: Translation of preempted for Spanish Speakers

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