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
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Recent Examples of preempting
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
Those remarks resulted in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr threatening action against ABC, and media companies Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcasting Group—both of which own many ABC affiliates—preempting the show.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Sinclair last week followed Nexstar in preempting Kimmel’s show.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live!
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
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
Those remarks resulted in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr threatening action against ABC, and media companies Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcasting Group—both of which own many ABC affiliates—preempting the show.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
Sinclair last week followed Nexstar in preempting Kimmel’s show.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2025
Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live!
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempting
Verb
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But seizing current oil production is one thing; overhauling Venezuela's entire oil industry would be another.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
7 Jan. 2026
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Trump has occasionally discussed seizing Greenland since his first term but few initially took his threats seriously.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The 5-11 200-pound standout has accumulated mind-boggling stats through nine games -- 1,098 rushing yards and 17 TDs while grabbing a team-leading 42 passes for 974 yards and 18 scores.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
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Nikola Jokic put up 26 points on 12 of 15 shooting, while also dishing out nine assists and grabbing nine rebounds.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The War of the Two Caesars also serves as a nice mirror for everything going down with the Brotherhood, Elder Cleric Quintus still hellbent on usurping the Commonwealth despite the arrival of Kumail Nanjiani’s Paladin Xander Harkness, an emissary from that neck of the woods.—
Jack King,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
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The District of Columbia attorney general, however, accused the administration of unlawfully usurping control of the city’s law enforcement and violating a law prohibiting troops from doing domestic police work.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After confiscating the device, officials downloaded its data to look at the GPS locations of where the drone had been.—
Laura Romero,
ABC News,
12 Dec. 2025
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Jewish settlers arriving from Europe are confiscating more and more of their land, enabled and protected by the British administrators of the region.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And while numbers vary, one former NBA player has even the biggest of rockstars beat, claiming to have slept with 20,000 women over the course of his life.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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Investigators said in a press release that a driver called 911, claiming that someone had shot at his vehicle while driving along Highway 67 near Joe Wilson Road.—
Matthew Davisson,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Bregman played his first nine seasons with the Houston Astros, winning World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 — although the first of those yielded a sign-stealing scandal that earned Bregman and his teammates plenty of scorn.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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Jacob Elordi is known for stealing hearts on and off-screen.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If regulators streamline permitting, converting the site into a gasoline import terminal could be profitable and relatively quick, said Ryan Cummings of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and a former Biden administration economic adviser.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
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The Huskies opened the first quarter on four consecutive steals, converting each one into points for an 8-0 start on the way to an 88-43 rout.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But Huddleston disagreed, saying the charter governs spending money but doesn’t apply to merely appropriating it.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
7 Jan. 2026
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Trump expressly declared that appropriating Venezuela’s enormous oil reserves justified regime change.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempting. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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