as in seizes
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempts
Verb
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Vito, seething and remorseless, grabs at control relentlessly; Frank, in no mood to fight, tries to cede it graciously, resulting in a lopsided tug-of-war.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2025 -
Curtis Rowe scores 19 points and Sidney Wicks adds 17 points and grabs 18 rebounds to lead UCLA to an 80-69 victory over Jacksonville for its fourth consecutive NCAA basketball championship.—
Austin Knoblauch,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Built in 1985, Wells Fargo Plaza occupies an acre of land at B Street and Fifth Avenue.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
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The Heisman Trophy runner-up ranks as the third overall prospect on our latest consensus big board and occupies the same spot on our draft guru Dane Brugler’s top 100 players.—
Austin Mock,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The money that Congress appropriates to federal agencies each year is intended to be spent.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
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The three branches are the legislative which makes laws and appropriates funds, the executive which enforces laws and implements public policy and the judicial which interprets laws and the constitution and applies those interpretations to legal disputes.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Her budget proposal presented to the board March 26 aims for an average increase to teacher supplements of 5% and assumes a state salary increase of 3%.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2025
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At least that’s what Coop sourly assumes.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Preempts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempts. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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