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
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Recent Examples of preempted
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, 30 Apr. 2026
Monsanto argues those claims should have been preempted by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, which requires manufacturers to register pesticides with the EPA before selling them, which Monsanto did.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026
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
Sarah J. Morath, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Monsanto argues those claims should have been preempted by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, which requires manufacturers to register pesticides with the EPA before selling them, which Monsanto did.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempted
Verb
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The tension spilled into election issues, including accusations that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized ballots in a voter‑fraud investigation, now at the center of a legal fight with the state attorney general.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Photograph courtesy Jennifer Hulse Israel seized control of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank during the Six-Day War, in 1967.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Vegas claimed its fifth regular-season Pacific Division title this year and is now four wins from a third Western Conference championship banner.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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Bianco launched a voter‑fraud investigation after a local group claimed the county counted roughly 46,000 more ballots than were received, a claim election officials rejected.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Detectives confiscated over $10,000 cash, along with narcotics and a firearm, after serving a search warrant Thursday in Westland, Michigan.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
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In 1782, Aspden learned that all of his property had been confiscated and would be sold to aid the patriots in the American Revolution.—
Kimberly Nath,
The Conversation,
7 May 2026
Verb
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That could impact the situation of Clarke, who outplayed Doughty and usurped his former position on the power play but logged fewer minutes at right defense just the same.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
2 May 2026
-
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
Verb
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At least 27 homes were so severely damaged that they could not be safely occupied along the coast, according to the California Coastal Commission.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
The drive-thru coffee house will take over the property previously occupied by TGI Fridays, which closed five years ago, said petitioner James Hus of the DVG Team.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Young grabbed onto Elijah’s hair to try to hang onto the moment.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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Becerra blunder The first ad that grabbed my attention was a quick-turn by San José Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan (still stuck in single-digit polling numbers), who jumped on Xavier Becerra’s first major mess-up.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The state paid $13 million in cash for Waterbury and assumed $22 million in liabilities.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
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However, the expansion assumed that the state had a nearly $100 billion surplus, which never materialized.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
Verb
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The funds would be pulled from money that Congress appropriated for health programs tackling malaria, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, nutrition, global health security, HIV/AIDS and more, two federal health policy experts told CNN.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
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Cohen is careful not to let enthusiasm for the science bleed into endorsement of the wellness industry that has appropriated it.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preempted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempted. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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