Thesaurus results for PREEMPTS

preempts

verb

present tense third-person singular of preempt

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

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 preempts Two federal courts of appeals have now issued conflicting decisions on whether federal law preempts states from enforcing their sports betting laws against Kalshi and other prediction-market operators. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Aug. 2026 No federal statute currently preempts state disclosure requirements, and firms advising advertisers have generally recommended continued compliance with state law while the question is litigated. — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026 The court held that federal pesticide law preempts a state failure-to-warn claim when the Environmental Protection Agency has not required a cancer warning on the product label. — Alex Smolak, STAT, 27 June 2026 The Justice wrote in a 7-2 opinion written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act expressly preempts state law and Monsanto's failure to warn consumers about the dangers of glyphosate. — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 25 June 2026 While the county’s charter outlines that vacancies would be replaced by the Board of County Commissioners, Florida law preempts the charter. — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026 Now, Supreme Court justices will weigh in on whether federal pesticide law preempts state-level claims. — Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 Last week, a federal judge halted Arizona’s regulatory efforts — which have included criminal charges against Kalshi — finding that the federal commission had demonstrated a reasonable chance of success in showing that the act preempts Arizona law. — ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026 The company argued the federal order preempts any requirement from California regulators, including court orders. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempts

Verb

Wilson, meanwhile, seizes on the opening to play teacher’s pet.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2026
Obreht is a writer who doesn’t rush into easy patterns of storytelling but seizes control from the jump.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of seizes

Verb

California courts have repeatedly refused to rewrite unconstitutional tax statutes on the grounds that this usurps the role of the Legislature or, in the case of an initiative, the people.

— Jared Walczak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2026
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

Definition of usurps

Verb

Unlike most other states, California has its own inspection-and-approval system for fireworks, and confiscates those failing standards.

— Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 30 June 2026
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

Definition of confiscates

Verb

Ryan opens it, grabs a Diet Coke and asks one of his assistants to summon a cup of ice.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Paramount grabs a distribution fee and recovers its marketing and P&A costs from ticket sales before sharing the remaining profits with Miramax.

— Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of grabs

Verb

For a touch of true elegance, book the Heritage Long Suite, which occupies the former postmaster’s office and is decked out with rich crown molding, marble fireplaces, and his original writing desk from the 19th century.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
The hotel occupies floors 30 through 36 of the Kioi Tower, with the lobby perched at the top.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of occupies

Verb

Their marketing falsely listed SpaceX and xAI as holdings, the SEC claims, when the funds never held investments in those companies.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
If a message claims your missing device has been located, open Google Find Hub or Samsung Find directly rather than signing in through a link somebody sent you.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of claims

Verb

The gang steals sacred objects, but their movements around them can resemble ceremony not desecration.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
Absolom steals the screen in Jordan Firstman’s feature directorial debut Club Kid, playing the surprise son, Arlo, to Firstman’s NYC club event and bacchanalian protag.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of steals

Verb

Tiki bars aren’t without criticism, having occasionally been attacked as escapist fantasy that appropriates Hawaiian or Polynesian iconography.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Summary The Caribbean is increasingly a global wellness hub, though Western influence often appropriates Afro-Indigenous practices.

— Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of appropriates

Browse Nearby Words

preemptions

preempts

preen

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“Preempts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempts. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of preempts

verb

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