as in previous
existing at an earlier time; existing before something else
The insurance does not cover preexisting medical conditions. They made changes to the preexisting law.
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Dissimilar Words
as in preceding
to go or come before in time
an advanced Mesoamerican civilization whose apex and collapse preexisted the arrival of Europeans by hundreds of years
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Recent Examples of preexisting
Alora Bopray, USA Today, 6 Jan. 2026
This serum is ideal for anyone looking to target premature and preexisting signs of skin aging.
—Tracy Achonwa, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2025
Like many other large businesses, J.M. Smucker also likely benefits from its scale and resources by using preexisting relationships with retailers to get products into stores across the country.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 11 Nov. 2025
Few people want to watch a topical show that’s not aligned with their preexisting political beliefs.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for preexisting
Adjective
Cinch also covers unknown preexisting conditions, which many competitors exclude.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 6 Jan. 2026
This serum is ideal for anyone looking to target premature and preexisting signs of skin aging.
—Tracy Achonwa, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2025
Like many other large businesses, J.M. Smucker also likely benefits from its scale and resources by using preexisting relationships with retailers to get products into stores across the country.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 11 Nov. 2025
Few people want to watch a topical show that’s not aligned with their preexisting political beliefs.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for preexisting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preexisting
Adjective
-
Earlier in the school year, BPS officials highlighted gains in chronic absenteeism — defined as students missing 10% or more of school days a year — across nearly all grade levels and student groups in the 2024-25 year from the previous year.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
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That was 300 fewer than in the previous year but still more than six deaths a day and more than four times the mortality rate for the county as a whole.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some mentions of outer space for Project Hail Mary, but otherwise this could’ve happened any week preceding a Styles show.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
8 Mar. 2026
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The event will also feature select original artwork on display, along with a cocktail reception preceding the screening.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Even when Disney brought back Ortega for their Descendants franchise in 2015 — a film about the children of Disney villains — IP took precedent time and time again above the story.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2026
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That’s because precedent changes in small but important ways all the time.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The lawsuit claims none of the arrests led to convictions and some were never prosecuted because police lacked probable cause to make the initial arrest.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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Arkapaw said her initial call with Coogler was expansive and discussed everything about the story.—
Angeline Jane Bernabe,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When there’s an intervening cloud of neutral matter in the way, for example, the original signal will be partially absorbed at a specific set of wavelengths by that matter.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Mar. 2026
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The original 1935 film that inspired Gyllenhaal’s version also followed that vein.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preexisting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preexisting. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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