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
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026
Experts warn that snow shoveling can pose serious health risks, particularly for older adults and those with preexisting conditions.
—Manahil Ahmad, The Providence Journal, 23 Feb. 2026
Our protocols allow for involuntary seizure but the better alternative, by far, is to leave a rogue male in his preexisting habitat, avoiding the trauma of relocation and setting him up for return visits from multiple females.
—Literary Hub, 3 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for preexisting
Adjective
In return, preexisting teams could protect up to six players on their roster.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026
Experts warn that snow shoveling can pose serious health risks, particularly for older adults and those with preexisting conditions.
—Manahil Ahmad, The Providence Journal, 23 Feb. 2026
Our protocols allow for involuntary seizure but the better alternative, by far, is to leave a rogue male in his preexisting habitat, avoiding the trauma of relocation and setting him up for return visits from multiple females.
—Literary Hub, 3 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for preexisting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preexisting
Adjective
-
The original team reunited for the re-boot, which included the Pritzker Prize winner, Eduardo Souto de Moura, who was a regular guest in its previous incarnation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Years of degrading the Star Wars legacy with terrible, unwatchable streaming series and the disappointing end of the previous trilogy have taken their toll.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Here's a timeline of events preceding the Eagles trading Brown to the Patriots.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
-
That mission, added to the Artemis program in March, aims to send a crew of astronaut to dock with the landers in Earth orbit in a test flight preceding a moon landing as early as 2028.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Their protections may have been further eroded with a precedent decision recently in which the Board of Immigration Appeals determined that DACA status alone is not enough to stop deportation.—
Hallie Golden,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
These tools can generate a first-draft NDA within seconds by drawing on vast training libraries of precedent agreements and current market standards.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Participants underwent an initial baseline assessment and were assigned individualized vagus nerve stimulation protocols designed by Pulsetto’s clinical team.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
-
Trump’s initial director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, resigned last month, citing her husband’s recent cancer diagnosis.—
Josh Boak,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
It's been 13 years since that sequel, which shed nearly every major player from the original franchise's cast and crew and added fresh blood like Ashley Tisdale and Lindsay Lohan.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
-
There are other interesting twists to the original story that highlight different parts of the themes of crime, punishment, family and responsibility.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preexisting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preexisting. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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