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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Recent Examples of preempted
The administration argued that the order preempted several California laws, regulations and court orders, which had, for months, blocked the pipelines’ restart.
—
Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
And the Jets preempted a looming Williams contract issue with that deal.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026
To that end, Kalshi insists states are preempted by a federal law, the Commodity Exchange Act, from enforcing their gambling laws on exchanges that offer sports prediction market wagers.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Volunteer Jane Gilbert recommends newbies check the site to make sure the Sunday practice isn’t preempted by a special event.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
However, Judge Rodriguez ruled that their state claims are preempted by federal copyright law and that Cardi’s shows in Texas weren’t different enough from her shows in other states to give Fraustro and Aguilar jurisdiction over her in the Lone Star State.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2026
His administration said last week that police had preempted a similar Hyde Park meetup.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
The states have a role to play, and that is the gold standard of that regulation, and we shouldn’t be preempted by federal regulation.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
The ordinance in Fishers, which has been preempted by state lawmakers, currently limits the number of rental homes to 10% per subdivision.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 23 Mar. 2026
Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
And the Jets preempted a looming Williams contract issue with that deal.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026
To that end, Kalshi insists states are preempted by a federal law, the Commodity Exchange Act, from enforcing their gambling laws on exchanges that offer sports prediction market wagers.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Volunteer Jane Gilbert recommends newbies check the site to make sure the Sunday practice isn’t preempted by a special event.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
However, Judge Rodriguez ruled that their state claims are preempted by federal copyright law and that Cardi’s shows in Texas weren’t different enough from her shows in other states to give Fraustro and Aguilar jurisdiction over her in the Lone Star State.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2026
His administration said last week that police had preempted a similar Hyde Park meetup.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
The states have a role to play, and that is the gold standard of that regulation, and we shouldn’t be preempted by federal regulation.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
The ordinance in Fishers, which has been preempted by state lawmakers, currently limits the number of rental homes to 10% per subdivision.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempted
Verb
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Authorities also seized multiple weapons, ammunition and explosive devices, the military said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Some vessels with links to Iran made attempts to move through the strait, but others are staying away after Iran attacked three ships with gunfire earlier this week and seized two more.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In that litigation, which has to do with the withholding of records in the case, a deputy city attorney and a San Diego police captain claimed on March 16 that the incident was still under review by the district attorney’s office for potential prosecution of the involved officers.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Andrews claimed that the financier was abusive.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That same year, his Brazilian and Spanish passports were confiscated due to the unpaid fines and taxes, per ESPN.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Officers also confiscated a knife that is believed to have been used in the altercation.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Vodka had overtaken gin in popularity by 1967, but by 2000 had fully usurped it, like Claudius to King Hamlet—occupied its position, married its wife, and taken control of its lands.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
21 Mar. 2026
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In other words, the apparatus that became the modern movie camera, up until digital technology usurped the role that film cameras played in capturing the first 100 years of filmmaking.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And until now, vertebrate predators such as large marine reptiles, sharks and fishes were thought to have commanded the seas, Iba said, but the fossils hint that octopuses may also have occupied the top of the food web.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
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Dozens of villages and towns in Lebanon’s south remain occupied by Israeli troops.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Stephens and her daughter had gone to bed when Knight grabbed knives from the kitchen, walked into their bedroom and attacked the woman as her daughter lay next to her.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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The witness said a woman believed to be a store employee grabbed at a backpack carried by one of the men, prompting that man to throw a punch at her.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Then the ball was tipped, and Hyland assumed his role as an irritant of Denver’s corner shooters.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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The experience gave me a front-row seat to the coast’s dramatic beauty, and also a lesson in the abundance of the Arctic, a region often assumed to be barren.—
Karen Gardiner,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The administration has refused to spend money Congress has appropriated, like for foreign aid, and has spent money that Congress has not appropriated, like to pay DHS employees despite a shutdown.—
Sam Gringlas,
NPR,
13 Apr. 2026
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The symbols were easily appropriated for marketing by roadside vendors but weren’t indicative of the separate and distinct Native American cultures in the area.—
Susan Montoya Bryan,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preempted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempted. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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