as in seized
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 preempted
The companies argue states are preempted by a federal law, the Commodity Exchange Act, from enforcing state laws in the sports prediction market space.
—
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Mississippi officials have argued that the state law is not preempted, while the RNC has urged the high court to strike down the Magnolia State’s law, along with similar ones in other states, as unlawful.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
Before even jumping into questions during Wednesday’s conference, Cardman preempted any probing questions.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026
State laws conflict with and are preempted by the Atomic Energy Act, according to Post-Tribune archives.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Summit sued the counties later that year, arguing the ordinances were preempted by federal pipeline safety standards.
—Cami Koons, Des Moines Register, 14 Jan. 2026
The case involves whether Zyla can sue under state unfair competition laws or whether it’s preempted by a federal drug law.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2026
Jimmy Kimmel Live found itself at the forefront of national conversation in September when ABC abruptly suspended the show after affiliate groups like Sinclair and Nexstar preempted the show following a suggestion from FCC Chair Brendan Carr.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Dec. 2025
The Supreme Court did not address the equal protection argument, instead ruling that the city ordinances are preempted by state law.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Mississippi officials have argued that the state law is not preempted, while the RNC has urged the high court to strike down the Magnolia State’s law, along with similar ones in other states, as unlawful.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 30 Jan. 2026
Before even jumping into questions during Wednesday’s conference, Cardman preempted any probing questions.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026
State laws conflict with and are preempted by the Atomic Energy Act, according to Post-Tribune archives.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Summit sued the counties later that year, arguing the ordinances were preempted by federal pipeline safety standards.
—Cami Koons, Des Moines Register, 14 Jan. 2026
The case involves whether Zyla can sue under state unfair competition laws or whether it’s preempted by a federal drug law.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2026
Jimmy Kimmel Live found itself at the forefront of national conversation in September when ABC abruptly suspended the show after affiliate groups like Sinclair and Nexstar preempted the show following a suggestion from FCC Chair Brendan Carr.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Dec. 2025
The Supreme Court did not address the equal protection argument, instead ruling that the city ordinances are preempted by state law.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempted
Verb
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Authorities have seized more than €957,000 in cash, including €67,000 in foreign currency.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
13 Feb. 2026
-
While Japan has seized fishing vessels from South Korea and Taiwan in recent years, the incident is the first involving a vessel from China since 2022 and comes against the backdrop of a major diplomatic dispute between the countries.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This dynamic has produced a range of figures, from the late Sathya Sai Baba, who claimed to perform miracles, to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose appeal lies in his widely popular Art of Living Foundation, which offers yoga and spiritual advice.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Nanos claimed Cross campaigned against him while wearing his Pima County Sheriff's uniform in breach of department rules, which Cross denied.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Lamia Rubia, 27, said all of her belongings were searched, and many items were confiscated.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The final straw came about two weeks ago, when the bar's doorman confiscated a fake ID featuring the face of Benjamin Franklin — complete with a fictional home address on Market Street.—
Ross DiMattei,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Whatever preference the players have not to grow the schedule is usurped by their priority to grow their wallet.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Feb. 2026
-
And though preseason predictions pegged Marty Supreme as Gwyneth Paltrow’s big Oscar comeback, Odessa A’zion’s performance as a girlfriend with gumption has usurped the Goopster’s buzz.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Puerto Rico was first colonized by the Spanish from 1493 until 1898, the year that the United States occupied the country as part of the Spanish-American War.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Prop 19, passed in 2020, limited the transfer of a lower tax base only to homes that a child or heir actually occupied, and excluded rental homes.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Doncic turned to run back up the court and grabbed the back of his left leg.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Jarrett Allen scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Dennis Schroder added 11 points in his Cavaliers debut and Keon Ellis had 6 points in his first game with the Cavaliers, who won for the seventh time in eight games.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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My favourite spot, though, might well have been Paradiso, the see-and-be-seen après-ski spot lodged into the side of a mountain in the Corviglia ski area, some 6,000 feet up, for which Badrutt’s assumed management in early 2022.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Feb. 2026
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There are some issues with properties that residents who moved to Portage in the last 15 years or so assumed always flooded, but many of those problems were caused by the city using slag sand when salt supplies were low to address ice on streets.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Tuesday's vote to approve the Flock contract also allocated that money paid by the dispensaries to the city's general fund, then appropriated the money to the Woodland Police Department budget.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
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The constitution was thus wrested from the Iranian people and appropriated by a ruling cadre that imposed its own interpretation of Islamic law upon them.—
Ramin Jahanbegloo,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preempted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempted. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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