as in seizing
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
Relevance
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 preempting
Florida lawmakers have passed many bills preempting local laws in recent years but a ban on local governments banning of single-use plastic straws.
—
Ana Goñi-Lessan, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
Paper straws Florida lawmakers have passed many bills preempting local laws in recent years but a ban on local governments banning of single-use plastic straws.
—Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
The council instructed planners to release acreage currently earmarked for annexation back to Ada County, preempting future requests to incorporate the land into Boise for development.
—Mark Dee
january 27, Idaho Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026
In addition to the GAIN AI Act, lawmakers have also been divided over a push to include a provision preempting state AI laws in the NDAA.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 4 Dec. 2025
There's internal discussion noted the importance of securing him to a new contract now, potentially preempting interest or offers from other promotions as his current deal nears its end.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
DeSantis signed a bill this year preempting local governments from blocking development of a presidential library, aiming to overrule potential opposition in liberal-leaning counties or municipalities.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
The late-night show returned to ABC days later, drawing more than 6 million viewers, despite Nextar and Sinclair affiliates preempting the show.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
Two major station owners, Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcast Group, still are preempting his program from their airwaves.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Ana Goñi-Lessan, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
Paper straws Florida lawmakers have passed many bills preempting local laws in recent years but a ban on local governments banning of single-use plastic straws.
—Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
The council instructed planners to release acreage currently earmarked for annexation back to Ada County, preempting future requests to incorporate the land into Boise for development.
—Mark Dee
january 27, Idaho Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026
In addition to the GAIN AI Act, lawmakers have also been divided over a push to include a provision preempting state AI laws in the NDAA.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 4 Dec. 2025
There's internal discussion noted the importance of securing him to a new contract now, potentially preempting interest or offers from other promotions as his current deal nears its end.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
DeSantis signed a bill this year preempting local governments from blocking development of a presidential library, aiming to overrule potential opposition in liberal-leaning counties or municipalities.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
The late-night show returned to ABC days later, drawing more than 6 million viewers, despite Nextar and Sinclair affiliates preempting the show.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
Two major station owners, Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcast Group, still are preempting his program from their airwaves.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempting
Verb
-
Ukraine accused Hungary’s pro-Russian government of taking the Ukrainians hostage and illegally seizing millions of dollars in cash.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The same thing happened in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Newcastle, with O’Brien seizing on Dan Burn’s clearing header.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Wembanyama had back-to-back dunks in the second quarter, including grabbing his own miss and throwing it down for what became a three-point play on a foul by Javonte Green.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Brigham is also charged with assaulting a man by grabbing and twisting his genitals.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Callie is popular and vivacious, perpetually surrounded by admirers and various hangers-on (Audrey Grace Marshall’s Cara is hellbent on usurping Minnie’s place in Callie’s life, while her himbo-esque boyfriend Brad is given wonderful dimension through Beck Nolan’s sneaky-good performance).—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
-
He is now engaged in an ongoing insurrection by violating the Constitution, exceeding his lawful authorities, usurping Congress, and encouraging Republican states to manipulate voting districts and procedures.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Now the city wants more tools to expand its limited enforcement options, which would start with warnings, then fines and may include confiscating food, equipment and carts found in violation of city ordinance and health codes.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Video of the incident shows a CBP officer confiscating the handgun shortly before other agents shot Pretti multiple times, killing him.—
Paul Kiefer,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Times sued the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December, claiming the credentialing policy violates the journalists’ constitutional rights to free speech and due process.—
Michael Kunzelman,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The Times sued the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December, claiming the credentialing policy violates the journalists’ constitutional rights to free speech and due process.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The bishop of a Chaldean Catholic church based in El Cajon is accused of stealing more than $250,000 from the church and backfilling the hole in the books with money intended to be used for poor people, a prosecutor told an East County judge Monday.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The reverend in charge of the largest cathedral in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh is accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of baseball trading cards.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In a few weeks, this site will be Pacific Electric, a new 750-capacity music venue that Lovett and his venue-developer firm TVG Hospitality have been converting for six years.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
For the old school crowd, that means teams are converting on 42 percent of their power plays over Vancouver’s last 21 games.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Salesman was a story about a woman attacked as a metaphor for a blindsided country, the director brilliantly re-appropriating the ultimate American drama Death of a Salesman to make the point.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
-
When that happened in 2007, Chevron entered a deal to continue operating in the country, but ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil departed, accusing the Venezuelan government of unfairly appropriating billions in assets.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempting. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
