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
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Recent Examples of preempting
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
So far, Nexstar and Sinclair stations have been preempting the show since Kimmel’s return.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 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
The news came in the wake of Nexstar Media Group, the owner of many local TV stations, announcing that its ABC affiliates would be preempting Kimmel's show in the wake of his comments about the death of Charlie Kirk.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
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
So far, Nexstar and Sinclair stations have been preempting the show since Kimmel’s return.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 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
The news came in the wake of Nexstar Media Group, the owner of many local TV stations, announcing that its ABC affiliates would be preempting Kimmel's show in the wake of his comments about the death of Charlie Kirk.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempting
Verb
-
Metropolitan Police officers are also said to have raided Clarke’s home, seizing items including laptops and documents.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
26 Sep. 2025
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Governments worldwide are already seizing the opportunity to attract skilled workers to their countries.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Securing the Shield ensures the top seed for Philly and home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup playoffs for a team that has quietly gone about a consistent season without grabbing much in the way of attention.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Without strangers lunging at her and grabbing her forearm.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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He has been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with the sheriff and of usurping her authority, leading the county Board of Supervisors to eliminate his position in November 2024.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
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Besides, usurping Jinkx Monsoon for Miss Piggy would fan the ferocious flames of backstage drama and turmoil (hmmm … Smash season-three idea).—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Witnesses claimed that after France’s embarrassing loss to Haiti, the French government retaliated by confiscating Ferdinand’s belongings and abandoning the child to an orphanage.—
Marlene L. Daut
September 22,
Literary Hub,
22 Sep. 2025
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Even confiscating half would barely register against a $6 trillion federal budget.—
Sally Pipes,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Scammers will call or text consumers claiming to be a legitimate institution, such as a bank or a government institution.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Treat any message claiming your Meta account or other services will be disabled within days with caution.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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What he’s actually done is fake his death to create a template for a new life by stealing $90 million from a client of his crooked law firm.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
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One man was arrested and accused of stealing a golf cart.—
Bob Harkins,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Cincinnati got the ball first to start the night and marched 62 yards over 12 plays, picking up four first downs and converting a pair of third downs before settling for a field goal.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
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Duggan and his co-owner, sister Elena Duggan, spent the past several years converting that former eatery into a stylish 9,000-square-foot space fronted by the iconic yellow-gold Original Joe’s sign.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The awards are expected to be announced later this year and depend on Congress appropriating the funds, according to the National Science Foundation website.—
Center Square,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preempting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempting. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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