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
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Recent Examples of preemption
The measure expands an existing prohibition on local governments from limiting agritourism activity on agricultural property to include preemptions against those property owners from having to obtain a rural event venue permit or license.
—
CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Then there’s Hillsborough County’s noise ordinance, changed shortly after the state added penalties to the preemption law in 2011.
—Christopher Spata, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
State preemption at this sweeping level is a radical departure from the current system.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
An astonishing 134 preemptions have become law since 2013, according to the Florida Association of Counties.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preemption
CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Then there’s Hillsborough County’s noise ordinance, changed shortly after the state added penalties to the preemption law in 2011.
—Christopher Spata, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
State preemption at this sweeping level is a radical departure from the current system.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
An astonishing 134 preemptions have become law since 2013, according to the Florida Association of Counties.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preemption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preemption
Noun
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Trump has been warning of a takeover of Cuba, feeding anxiety among Democratic lawmakers who are fearful that negotiations with Havana are a pretense for an invasion.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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That’s different from a street takeover, and gives legitimate racers a bad name.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Republicans circled back on the two-pronged plan to fund immigration agencies through reconciliation and the rest of DHS through the traditional appropriations process.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
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The lapse in appropriations left thousands of DHS staffers working without pay for weeks, including TSA officers.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The double blockade actually creates a pretty tenuous situation because every interdiction, every warning shot, every seizure of vessels, could become a trigger for a wider relapse into conflict.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
27 Apr. 2026
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That certification does not mention mines specifically and is intended to protect against the entire spectrum of threats, including missile and drone attacks or seizures, Mortimer said.—
Ben Finley,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Crystal Grove plans also received backlash from residents when petitioners in March appeared before city officials and received approval for the annexation of 112-acre parcels known as 13209, 13232 and 13420 Delaware Street.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
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In Parker County, Tanya Babbar reports that three challengers backed by Mayor Teresa Palmer are trying to flip the Willow Park City Council amid a lawsuit from Fort Worth and Aledo over allegations of unlawful annexation tied to a $500 million development.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram staff,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 May 2026
Noun
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This is an ancient practice that continues into the Middle Ages called usurpation.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
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The Court’s usurpation runs deeper than the invalidation of statutes with a liberal cast, though there has been plenty of that.—
Duncan Hosie,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preemption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preemption. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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