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
In February 2025, a state appeals court upheld the jury’s verdict, ruling that Missouri’s laws requiring companies to warn of dangers are not preempted by federal law.
—
Sarah J. Morath,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
The plaintiffs argued that the provisions violated or were preempted by the National Voting Registration Act, as well as a 2018 consent decree between Arizona's secretary of state and the Maricopa County recorder.
—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
Trump’s lawyers said federal law preempted or overrode the state law.
—
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
The complaint argues that the Kansas law is preempted by federal statute, citing two 1996 laws that limit what public benefits undocumented immigrants can receive.
—
Matthew Kelly
updated June 25,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
Those claims are now preempted by federal law.
—
Diana Novak Jones,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Felicis preempted the round which brought Runlayer’s total capital raised to $42 million.
—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
The industry argued that New York’s public nuisance law is preempted by the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, enacted by Congress in 2005.
—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2026
The Weird and Wild column had to be preempted by other programming these last couple of weeks.
—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Sarah J. Morath,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
The plaintiffs argued that the provisions violated or were preempted by the National Voting Registration Act, as well as a 2018 consent decree between Arizona's secretary of state and the Maricopa County recorder.
—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
Trump’s lawyers said federal law preempted or overrode the state law.
—
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
The complaint argues that the Kansas law is preempted by federal statute, citing two 1996 laws that limit what public benefits undocumented immigrants can receive.
—
Matthew Kelly
updated June 25,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
Those claims are now preempted by federal law.
—
Diana Novak Jones,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Felicis preempted the round which brought Runlayer’s total capital raised to $42 million.
—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
The industry argued that New York’s public nuisance law is preempted by the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, enacted by Congress in 2005.
—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2026
The Weird and Wild column had to be preempted by other programming these last couple of weeks.
—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempted
Verb
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Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who voted against the proposal in mid-June, voiced fears that the list of noncitizen voters would immediately be seized by federal immigration authorities.
-
Meanwhile, Russia’s military on Saturday claimed to have seized the city of Kostiantynivka, a key defensive hub in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.
Verb
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The Dodgers claimed a series win in the four-game home set against their division rival, with the chance to sweep Sunday.
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Russia meanwhile has claimed that its forces now control the important town of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Verb
-
The most obvious concession is compensating Cubans and Americans whose assets were confiscated during the revolution.
-
With the charges dismissed, Patel will no longer face prosecution and is expected to receive his passport back shortly after it was confiscated by authorities.
Verb
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Congress’s celebration, planned for a decade, has been usurped by the president’s celebration, funded by private donors and featuring a political speech by himself.
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The wedding broke the record for the largest single-location mass wedding at the time, until it was usurped in 2023, per Guinness World Records.
Verb
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But the location of his grave was lost once British troops retook the city in late 1778 and occupied it through the war’s end, camping in the cemetery.
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Dying was such a momentous thing to do, and while Matthew, their dear friend, their cousin-brother, had been off doing it, the women had occupied themselves with such frivolities as cleaning and heat.
Verb
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When Kennedy approached the rider and grabbed the handlebars to check whether the bike was registered, the rider refused to get off and allegedly tried to pull away.
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Maura Higgins, breakout star of The Traitors, grabbed her best tennis whites to ace the style assignment at Wimbledon 2026.
Verb
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Many business leaders assumed the semiconductor crisis ended with the pandemic.
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The defense attorney said police automatically assumed her client was the suspect from the start.
Verb
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Sununu, who formerly served as governor of New Hampshire, urged Congress to find more money to overhaul the air traffic control system — on top of the billions lawmakers appropriated last year to upgrade communications and radar equipment.
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The Legislature appropriated $5 million in one-time funding, so next year, lawmakers will have to decide whether to allocate additional money.
Cite this Entry
“Preempted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempted. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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