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
The Weird and Wild column had to be preempted by other programming these last couple of weeks.
—
Jayson Stark, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Frost noted that the show was preempted for six out of eight weeks of airing as the network turned its attention to the Gulf War.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 13 May 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, 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
Jayson Stark, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Frost noted that the show was preempted for six out of eight weeks of airing as the network turned its attention to the Gulf War.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 13 May 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, 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempted
Verb
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Fans inside the packed stadium in Inglewood, California, roared as the USMNT seized an early advantage.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
-
During the operation, officials seized multiple amounts of drugs and several boxes containing fireworks.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Chicagoans have a deep reverence for the thick, unique pizza style, and Cornell and Stevenson said visitors from the Windy City have claimed Zelda’s is the most authentic version of the pie in California.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
-
Court documents allege Evergreen Grocery and Deli claimed to have served more than 3,000 meals twice daily, seven days a week.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Local residents and business owners said Israeli forces had later returned to the area and confiscated all CCTV recordings.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
-
But any noise-making devices such as vuvuzelas, air horns and whistles will be confiscated.—
Laurence Miedema,
Mercury News,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in March upheld a complaint by Ukraine that Russia’s chess federation had usurped control of the game in areas of Ukraine captured by the Russian military.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
-
James Purefoy plays King Randor, He-Man’s father and the previous ruler of Eternia who was usurped by Skeletor.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
As the name implies, these sensors are designed to detect whether the room is occupied.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 June 2026
-
Estuardo Mazariegos and Jose Ugarte will vie for the District 9 council seat that is currently occupied by Curren Price, and Tim Gaspar and Barri Worth Girvan will square off for the District 3 seat held by incumbent Bob Blumenfield.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Cameron Brink added 15 points off the bench and Dearica Hamby grabbed 10 rebounds for the Sparks (6-6) in the Commissioner’s Cup game.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
Cameron Brink added 15 points off the bench, Erica Wheeler scored 10 and Dearica Hamby grabbed 10 rebounds for the Sparks (6-6) in the Commissioner’s Cup game.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
This year, the United Arab Emirates was told its gas leaks less methane than everyone had assumed.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
When Perimenopause Actually Starts A February 2025 study in npj Women’s Health by UVA Health and Flo Health found perimenopausal symptoms starting much earlier than commonly assumed.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 13,
Charlotte Observer,
13 June 2026
Verb
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It was appropriated a decade ago as a signal for white supremacy that started as a hoax on the far-right online message board 4chan.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
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Last fiscal year, the county appropriated nearly $500 million to cover possible payouts on claims from fire victims of the Airport fire.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preempted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempted. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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