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 But Democrats on the Commerce Committee ultimately stripped out preemption of state AI laws originally in the Chatbot Act. — Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2026 Other courts have upheld local-cleaning policies against Energy Policy and Conservation Act preemption challenges, according to the village. — Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for preemption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preemption
  1. takeover
  2. appropriation
  3. seizure
  4. annexation
  5. usurpation
Noun
  • Assuming a 30% takeover premium, SpaceX would pay nearly $2 trillion in stock, leaving Tesla’s shareholders with almost half the combined company.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The home takeover came to light when a real estate company bought the property from West’s heirs months later, the arrest affidavit said.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of takeover
Noun
  • These early pieces synced with the bitter mindset of the Pictures Generation of the late 1970s and early ’80s, whose artists took up appropriation as a means of testing authorship and ownership.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • If voters approve the sales tax initiatives, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK would be required to approve specific appropriations during future public meetings.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of appropriation
Noun
  • The seemingly perfectly healthy and always active youngster from Georgia suffered a massive seizure, with scans later revealing three brain tumors.
    — Patrick Snell, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Another drug recommended in the new guideline is gabapentin, an anticonvulsant typically used to treat seizures.
    — Shannon Firth, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of seizure
Noun
  • Yolo County voters approved annexation into SMUD’s service territory but rejected a separate measure to switch electricity providers by just 10 votes.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Overall, the feasibility study said the annexation area represents a logical extension of the city’s existing urban development pattern.
    — Brian Bell, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of annexation
Noun
  • Cathy’s ingratiation with, and eventual usurpation of, brothel owner Faye (Martha Plimpton) gets an entire episode.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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 23 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on preemption

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about preemption

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of asunder

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All