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
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Recent Examples of preempts
Mississippi appealed a lower court ruling that found federal law preempts the statute, but several conservative justices expressed concern that counting ballots late could undermine faith in elections.
—
Jared Gans, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2026
Republicans and Libertarians told the court that federal election law preempts Mississippi from counting ballots that arrive up to five days after polls close as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
—Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
Clement rejected that assertion by Jackson, saying that regardless of how the justices rule in this case, Congress can always pass a new law reversing the finding because the Supreme Court is presently just interpreting whether existing law preempts state late mail ballot laws.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 23 Mar. 2026
The court will specifically examine whether the federal Clean Air Act preempts state-law nuisance claims seeking damages from oil and gas companies.
—Taylor Millard, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
Witt also added that the Legislature often preempts city regulations.
—Idaho Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026
The bill also preempts to the Legislature the naming of airports to Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport in Lee County and Jacksonville International Airport.
—Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
This approach also preempts activist claims of stagnation, proving that the company is actively charting its own course.
—Sam Wolf, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
The bill also preempts to the Legislature the naming of airports to Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport in Lee County and Jacksonville International Airport.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Jared Gans, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2026
Republicans and Libertarians told the court that federal election law preempts Mississippi from counting ballots that arrive up to five days after polls close as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
—Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
Clement rejected that assertion by Jackson, saying that regardless of how the justices rule in this case, Congress can always pass a new law reversing the finding because the Supreme Court is presently just interpreting whether existing law preempts state late mail ballot laws.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 23 Mar. 2026
The court will specifically examine whether the federal Clean Air Act preempts state-law nuisance claims seeking damages from oil and gas companies.
—Taylor Millard, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
Witt also added that the Legislature often preempts city regulations.
—Idaho Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026
The bill also preempts to the Legislature the naming of airports to Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport in Lee County and Jacksonville International Airport.
—Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
This approach also preempts activist claims of stagnation, proving that the company is actively charting its own course.
—Sam Wolf, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
The bill also preempts to the Legislature the naming of airports to Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport in Lee County and Jacksonville International Airport.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempts
Verb
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Earnest and intersectional, the spoken word artist’s debut solo album seizes upon the power of club music to preach about gender equality, personal transformation, and communal uplift.—
Jesse Dorris,
Pitchfork,
25 Mar. 2026
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So, when Ozzie (Kyle Bary), a former child star, finds himself in a heap of trouble, Jax seizes the opportunity to spice up her daily routine.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After witnessing Sinner miss 16 break points against the same opponent on Friday, Alcaraz would have been forgiven for worrying that something similar might happen to him — especially against arguably tennis’s greatest escape artist, at least until the Spaniard usurps him.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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Jokic usurps Nurkic Jusuf Nurkic became Jokic’s first backup center in unceremonious fashion, getting benched by Michael Malone 25 games into his third season.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The children designated as Palestinians, meanwhile, have their drawings torn up and are relegated to small corners of the classroom while the teacher confiscates their candy.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Nov. 2025
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Milwaukee Marshall High School confiscates a student’s phone until the end of the day for a first offense, requires a parent pickup after a second offense and issues an automatic suspension for repeat violations.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Tomislav Ivišić grabs a rebound against Houston in last weekend's Sweet 16.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
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After lowering the helicopter to the water's surface, a flight crew member grabs the dog and hauls the pet aboard.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The bar occupies 1,500 square feet along the street-facing side of the property with a storefront like other retail businesses in the area.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The Lake Sandy Jo site occupies 50 acres in Gary’s Black Oak neighborhood, according to Post-Tribune archives.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For example, you're not obligated to buy the car rental company's expensive insurance, regardless of what a car rental salesperson claims.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Bank of America also has agreed to pay certain litigation costs and claims administration costs, and those costs will not come from the fund used to pay class members, records show.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Deed theft is essentially when someone steals a house, often forging the paperwork, and data obtained by CBS News New York shows a 240% increase in complaints to the New York Attorney General's Office from 2023 to 2025.—
Tim McNicholas,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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The team leader also has a lot of support from sophomore forward Sarah Strong, who leads UConn in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The state appropriates within its budget to ensure bond holders know the state has the money, but the state hasn’t had to use that money because the admissions tax and tax district have funded the bond, Huston said.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
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The lawsuit argues the freeze violated federal law, including the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional limits on executive power and how Congress appropriates funds.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preempts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempts. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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