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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preemption
This supply-side reform is gaining momentum across states, where over 100 pro-housing bills were signed into law in 2025, with Texas and California leading on zoning preemption.
—
Brad Hunter, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The program was reinstated nearly a week later, though two broadcast groups (Nexstar and Sinclair) decided to maintain their preemption in several territories.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Jan. 2026
The primary suit is flimsy and the hand too weak overall, but the conditions are near-perfect for aggressive preemption, so that might not stop me.
—Arkansas Online, 4 Jan. 2026
The Indiana report's authors argue that state lawmakers are increasingly using preemption to target policies that could help lower-income Hoosiers and others in vulnerable groups.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preemption
Brad Hunter, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The program was reinstated nearly a week later, though two broadcast groups (Nexstar and Sinclair) decided to maintain their preemption in several territories.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Jan. 2026
The primary suit is flimsy and the hand too weak overall, but the conditions are near-perfect for aggressive preemption, so that might not stop me.
—Arkansas Online, 4 Jan. 2026
The Indiana report's authors argue that state lawmakers are increasingly using preemption to target policies that could help lower-income Hoosiers and others in vulnerable groups.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preemption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preemption
Noun
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Morath announced a state takeover of Fort Worth ISD last year after a single campus in the district, Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade Center, received five consecutive failure ratings in the state’s A-F accountability scores.—
Silas Allen,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Morath confirmed the takeover decision in October, and a panel of state administrative law judges ruled against Fort Worth ISD last month in the school district’s final appeal.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Committees everybody wants to get on are appropriations, finance, judiciary and foreign relations.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
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Congress is meant to approve an annual authorization bill to set NASA’s priorities and an appropriations bill that allocates money, but the former is often neglected; the most recent finalized NASA authorization bill dates to 2022.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The seizure by Israel of more territory in south Lebanon, accompanied by a surge of violence including air strikes, follows Hezbollah’s decision to avenge the killing of the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
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Then, with the flip of a switch in the control room next door, the cab would start to shake and roll on its piston legs, as if having a seizure.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The council will consider the project’s zoning, rear yard coverage and annexation requests at a future meeting.—
Marie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
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The board approved first reading of the annexation along with a preliminary development plan and a conditional use permit to allow triplex buildings at its Tuesday night meeting.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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As Isaac told it, his kingdom’s history is rife with treachery, usurpation, and murder.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preemption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preemption. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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