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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempts
Verb
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Ellie brings up the salad and seizes the opportunity to take credit for her part in making lunch.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
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While Linda seizes, Bradley makes a break for it on a makeshift raft.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 May 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
-
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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Kennedy then pins the snake’s head and grabs it by the mouth, avoiding any potential venomous bites.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
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Davis grabs two suitcases off the belt, pulls out a handheld computer that looks like an extra-rugged iPad, and scans the bar codes on the luggage tags.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
26 May 2026
Verb
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The swanky, glamour-in-the-sky Shangri-La Hotel occupies 18 floors of The Shard, an architectural feat and Western Europe’s tallest building.—
Laura Manske,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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With tears running down his face, Dillard lit candles and placed posters of his son in front of the supermarket that now occupies the space where El Mula Banquet Hall once stood.—
Nikiya Carrero,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Europe claims the top 10 spots in a ranking of the world's most walkable cities.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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The company claims the model tops several open-model benchmarks for world generation, robotic action policies, and vision understanding.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Their brother, Bill, steals the film as an unstable groundskeeper who is tasked with killing an errant gopher.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
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One of the ostriches steals Turk’s Kangol hat and puts it on.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
26 May 2026
Verb
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The bill appropriates $495 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.—
Carrie Brandon Elliot,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Preempts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempts. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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