as in to seize
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preempt
The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate had been expected to be arraigned Thursday on a state murder indictment in a killing that at once rattled the business community and galvanized some health insurance critics, but the federal charges preempted that appearance.
—
Mark Scolforo, arkansasonline.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Given this, not cutting in December could be viewed as preempting the incoming administration’s fiscal or trade policy.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2024
While the plaintiffs alleged that Virginia’s law was preempted by federal law and violated the Dormant Commerce Clause, such arguments were rejected by the court, which consequently ruled that the 2018 Farm Bill didn’t preempt Virginia’s regulations.
—Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
On Friday, President Joe Biden extended Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of migrants from Venezuela and other countries as a bid to preempt Trump from jeopardizing the benefit.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for preempt 
Mark Scolforo, arkansasonline.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Given this, not cutting in December could be viewed as preempting the incoming administration’s fiscal or trade policy.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2024
While the plaintiffs alleged that Virginia’s law was preempted by federal law and violated the Dormant Commerce Clause, such arguments were rejected by the court, which consequently ruled that the 2018 Farm Bill didn’t preempt Virginia’s regulations.
—Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
On Friday, President Joe Biden extended Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of migrants from Venezuela and other countries as a bid to preempt Trump from jeopardizing the benefit.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for preempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempt
Verb
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When the bride steps away, other women can seize the moment to give the groom a friendly peck.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
Vogue,
4 Feb. 2025
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When Yardley submitted the manuscript to Macmillan in February 1933, a U.S. marshal seized and impounded it under the Espionage Act of 1917, which prohibited taking secret documents.—
Peter Zablocki,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Ultimately, China’s recent AI progress, instead of usurping U.S. strength, might in fact be the beginning of a reordering—a step, in other words, toward a future where, instead of a hegemonic power, there are many competing centers of AI power.—
Billy Perrigo,
TIME,
27 Jan. 2025
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Simply put, private parties have no right to take advantage of the government, and when no one is watching enter contracts that usurp powers that belong to the public.—
Tom Geoghegan,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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His service items, including his badge and firearm, were also confiscated.—
Barbara A. Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
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We were interrogated, the contents of our suitcase was kind of picked through and things were confiscated.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Marvel Spider-Man's Car and Doc Ock Building Set Don’t forget to grab a Valentine’s Gift for the little one in your life.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
People.com,
6 Feb. 2025
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Also using a franchise model, the company operates a network of almost 10,000 stores across China, hoping to grab consumer attention with as many storefronts as possible, according to its prospectus.—
Yue Wang,
Forbes,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Mary Lou Lord told me about a particularly bad day in the London Tube, where a creepy guy with one arm peed in her guitar case, then stole her money—so that would be a bad day for her.—
Cary Baker,
SPIN,
29 Jan. 2025
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Petey the Cat abandons Lil Petey on the street, and Grampa Petey is condescending and steals from his son.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Apparently, Musk believes that Alex Jones, the far-right pundit and conspiracy theorist who is best known for repeatedly claiming that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that killed 20 children and 6 adults was part of a government hoax, belongs in this collective consciousness.—
John Hyatt,
Forbes,
29 Jan. 2025
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In her decision on Wednesday, Judge Analisa Torres said that federal royalty rate rules clearly allowed Spotify to legally claim the lower rate.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Acquired as a second-line winger from Tampa Bay in 2019, Miller eventually converted to center during his Canucks tenure and broke out with more opportunity.—
Thomas Drance,
The Athletic,
1 Feb. 2025
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The old classrooms were all converted into the primary bedroom, kid’s bedrooms, living room, and kitchen.—
Celia Fernandez,Valentina Duarte,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Historic museums set within ornate palazzos occupy much of the city, such as Palazzo Madama, Turin’s municipal museum of ancient art, and Palazzo Reale di Torino, a 16th-century palace built for the House of Savoy.—
Monica Mendal,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2025
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San Diego Wave has completed the signing of France midfielder Kenza Dali from Aston Villa. Dali, 33, has joined the club on a two-year deal through to 2027 and will occupy an international slot on the Wave’s roster in 2025.—
Ali Rampling,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near preempt
Cite this Entry
“Preempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempt. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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