preemption

noun

prē-ˈem(p)-shən How to pronounce preemption (audio)
Definition of preemptionnext
as in takeover
the unlawful taking or withholding of something from the rightful owner under a guise of authority longtime residents resented the preemption of their urban neighborhood by this influx of affluent yuppies

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 preemption This contrasts sharply with a federal judge's decision days earlier, blocking Minnesota from criminalizing prediction markets, a win for Kalshi and the CFTC who argue federal preemption. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026 While a handful in Congress are taking the issue of AI oversight and transparency seriously, the debate over preemption risks overshadowing the broader goal of establishing a federal AI governance framework. — Caleb Knapp, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 Absent from the documents was any mention of rewrites regarding antitrust protection or preemption of state laws. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 Trump officials, too, have sought a preemption measure to facilitate innovation. — Victoria Baeza Garcia, The Washington Examiner, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for preemption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preemption
  1. takeover
  2. appropriation
  3. seizure
  4. annexation
  5. usurpation
Noun
  • Min Aung Hlaing faced years of diplomatic isolation following his 2021 takeover and was barred from top-level ASEAN meetings for failing to comply with the bloc's peace plan for Myanmar.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Attendance was lackluster, and worries about GOP voter turnout to thwart a Democratic takeover of Congress were clearly on the president's mind.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of takeover
Noun
  • But whether private or public, aviation security funds will have to come from congressional appropriations.
    — Hydrick Thomas, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Although Congress reauthorized the National Levee Safety Program until 2028, appropriations have not been made to fully fund it.
    — Kaleigh Yost, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of appropriation
Noun
  • Both Mexico’s Navy and Defense Ministry confirmed to CNN an increase in drone seizures over the past year.
    — Sol Amaya, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Folsom staff said the city could not legally adopt the type of impoundment residents requested, citing Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable seizures.
    — Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of seizure
Noun
  • Nelson Wiseman, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto, said Trump’s annexation threats carry particular weight in Quebec.
    — Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • By gradually accomplishing a de-facto annexation of the West Bank, the settlements would require Israeli Jews either to rule over a resentful non-Jewish population of about equal size or to surrender the Jewish identity of their state.
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of annexation
Noun
  • Wasserman Schultz’s decision to run in the historically Black 20th Congressional District was selfish and opportunistic carpetbagging, a devastating usurpation of power from Black Floridians.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The attempt of any of the parts to exercise it is usurpation.
    — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Definition of usurpation

Browse Nearby Words

preempting
preemption
preemptions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preemption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preemption. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on preemption

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about preemption

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All