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 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 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 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
  • The goal was limited to driving out the Iraqi troops who'd seized Kuwait.
    — Greg Myre, NPR, 18 July 2026
  • Trump has seized on primary wins by progressive Democrats to constantly stoke new fears about communism.
    — Will Weissert, Fortune, 18 July 2026
Definition of seized
Verb
  • Mohebi claimed that in the last two weeks Iran had destroyed a wide variety of US military facilities across the region.
    — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
  • Walter was killed just one day after a fatal crash claimed the life of another e-scooter rider in Brooklyn.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026
Definition of claimed
Verb
  • When the Nazis confiscated the negative and shipped it back to Berlin, Hensel safeguarded it in the Reichsfilmarchiv vaults in Berlin until the Allied victory.
    — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026
  • Bečov Castle, near the German border, was confiscated by Czechoslovakia after World War II because its owners, the Beaufort-Spontin family, were labeled Nazi sympathizers.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of confiscated
Verb
  • Anyway, Mack usurped the starting catcher role upon arrival in Miami, maintaining the same 26 HR per 600 PA pace achieved over his last two seasons of MiLB ball.
    — John Laghezza, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • When talkies usurped silent films, in the late 1920s, theaters scrambled to adapt to a new, squatter format.
    — Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026
Definition of usurped
Verb
  • Set in occupied Poland in the middle of the Second World War, Holoubek’s tour de force is part suspenseful western, part gritty wartime noir.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 July 2026
  • Biotechnology has always occupied a unique position on Wall Street.
    — Steve Brozak, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of occupied
Verb
  • Smith grabbed Hicks near her throat and slammed her into the car and onto the pavement, according to Hicks’ attorney.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • Janet grabbed a roll of paper towels, ready to clean up the dirty drips that ran across her kitchen floor.
    — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Definition of grabbed
Verb
  • Keynes assumed that once material scarcity eased, human beings would naturally turn towards the art of living.
    — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • All because voters assumed that simply reaching the SEC Championship Game and beating Georgia was an unimaginable accomplishment.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of assumed
Verb
  • That’s different from what happened after past disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, when Congress appropriated large portions of the amounts that were requested.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2026
  • The renovation is being funded by $257 million in funds appropriated by Congress through last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in July 2025.
    — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 13 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 26 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of preempted for Spanish Speakers

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