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 The California Restaurant Association challenged the ban in federal court, saying the city’s ban preempted Energy Policy and Conservation Act rules on energy use of gas appliances, including those in households and restaurant kitchens. — Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 On July 8, a federal judge in Manhattan denied Kalshi's bid to block New York's regulators, holding the state's gambling laws are not preempted as applied to sports contracts. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026 This week wasn’t a total loss for SerpApi and Perplexity AI, which did manage to get Reddit’s unjust enrichment and unfair competition claims tossed, since they were both preempted by the Copyright Act. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026 But the Court finds the state law is likely preempted in many respects. — Samantha Elkins, NBC news, 27 July 2026 Pierron, who recalled not being able to watch the 1986 World Cup final in Olathe because it had been preempted by a telethon, bought season tickets right away. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempted
  1. seized
  2. claimed
  3. confiscated
  4. usurped
  5. occupied
  6. grabbed
  7. assumed
  8. appropriated
Verb
  • President Min Aung Hlaing, the former army chief who had originally seized power in 2021 from Suu Kyi’s civilian government, has been trying to win political legitimacy since the takeover and resume relations with ASEAN.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Attacks could draw retaliation and reignite Yemen’s war Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, forcing the government into exile.
    — Fatma Khaled, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of seized
Verb
  • Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed an attack on Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery Sunday, a major crude oil refinery located on the Red Sea coast in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
    — Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The groups have claimed migrants without documents are contributing to South Africa's high unemployment rate by taking jobs, while also putting pressure on public services.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of claimed
Verb
  • Several members hotel rooms were searched and their passports were temporarily confiscated, the post said.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 3 Aug. 2026
  • After helping rescue a small group of ploughshares confiscated from smugglers, Goode and the Turtle Conservancy became the first to successfully breed the species outside of Madagascar.
    — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 29 July 2026
Definition of confiscated
Verb
  • His story is one rife with terror, pain and a sweltering rage that has usurped everything around him.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Season 2 was a major improvement, which was then usurped by season 3, which brought in new uniforms, new sets, and Michael Piller to head up the writing team.
    — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of usurped
Verb
  • At the end of 2020, hundreds of hospitals were at full capacity, and more than 90% of ICU beds were occupied in a third of all hospitals.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • LeBron already occupied the throne when Curry came out of nowhere to challenge him for Larry O’Brien trophies.
    — Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of occupied
Verb
  • In an attempt to stop the dog attack, the owner grabbed a gun and shot the attacking dog.
    — Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Mulholland grabbed his assistant and told his chauffeur to head there.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of grabbed
Verb
  • Since Escola, who won a Tony for playing Mary, left the production, tons of famous faces have assumed the part including Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess, Betty Gilpin, Maya Rudolph and Meg Stalter.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Her current role will be assumed by new General Counsel Jennifer Newstead.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of assumed
Verb
  • Its funding comes from money appropriated by Congress, as well as donations from corporations and individuals.
    — Sarah Webber, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026
  • District officials warned against budgeting money that had not yet been appropriated, while educators, their unions and other supporters argued that failing to do so would certainly trigger deeper cuts to classrooms already stretched thin.
    — Richard Fowler, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of appropriated

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preempted
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Cite this Entry

“Preempted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempted. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of preempted for Spanish Speakers

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