preempts

verb

present tense third-person singular of preempt
as in seizes
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of preempts No federal statute currently preempts state disclosure requirements, and firms advising advertisers have generally recommended continued compliance with state law while the question is litigated. — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026 The court held that federal pesticide law preempts a state failure-to-warn claim when the Environmental Protection Agency has not required a cancer warning on the product label. — Alex Smolak, STAT, 27 June 2026 The Justice wrote in a 7-2 opinion written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act expressly preempts state law and Monsanto's failure to warn consumers about the dangers of glyphosate. — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 25 June 2026 While the county’s charter outlines that vacancies would be replaced by the Board of County Commissioners, Florida law preempts the charter. — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026 Now, Supreme Court justices will weigh in on whether federal pesticide law preempts state-level claims. — Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 Last week, a federal judge halted Arizona’s regulatory efforts — which have included criminal charges against Kalshi — finding that the federal commission had demonstrated a reasonable chance of success in showing that the act preempts Arizona law. — ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026 The company argued the federal order preempts any requirement from California regulators, including court orders. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026 Mississippi appealed a lower court ruling that found federal law preempts the statute, but several conservative justices expressed concern that counting ballots late could undermine faith in elections. — Jared Gans, The Hill, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preempts
  1. seizes
  2. usurps
  3. confiscates
  4. grabs
  5. occupies
  6. claims
  7. steals
  8. appropriates
Verb
  • Better, Cretton seizes small moments to put his stamp on this installment.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
  • Rhaenyra, queen of the Blacks, seizes the Iron Throne in King’s Landing with the support of Alicent, who has simply had enough of her unstable and terrible sons.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026
Definition of seizes
Verb
  • California courts have repeatedly refused to rewrite unconstitutional tax statutes on the grounds that this usurps the role of the Legislature or, in the case of an initiative, the people.
    — Jared Walczak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2026
  • After witnessing Sinner miss 16 break points against the same opponent on Friday, Alcaraz would have been forgiven for worrying that something similar might happen to him — especially against arguably tennis’s greatest escape artist, at least until the Spaniard usurps him.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Definition of usurps
Verb
  • Unlike most other states, California has its own inspection-and-approval system for fireworks, and confiscates those failing standards.
    — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • The children designated as Palestinians, meanwhile, have their drawings torn up and are relegated to small corners of the classroom while the teacher confiscates their candy.
    — Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 26 Nov. 2025
Definition of confiscates
Verb
  • But his wildly unfiltered speech grabs the attention of beautiful and brash public defender Ginger (Gilpin), herself a crusader for truth.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Profanity also grabs attention since the shock value of an F-bomb can lead to more media coverage and clips circulating on social media.
    — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of grabs
Verb
  • The stadium occupies the site where a foundry once made New York’s distinctive fire hydrants, meaning the locals have for generations known this corner of the Yorkshire town as ‘New York’.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Cheap electric cars dominate one end of the market, Tesla occupies the premium end, and the middle is getting squeezed.
    — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of occupies
Verb
  • The filing, obtained by Rolling Stone, claims Jones took footage Combs was shooting for his own documentary.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Taiwan is no stranger to cyberattacks, particularly from neighboring China, which claims the East Asian democracy as its own and has vowed to annex it, by force if necessary.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of claims
Verb
  • Nobody wants to work with a colleague who steals credit for everything.
    — Melody Wilding, CNBC, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Trump's quick save for wandering toddler sets up a Biden joke that steals the show.
    — , FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of steals
Verb
  • By contrast, Congress appropriates much of the public-private institution’s funding and exercises oversight over the institution, which is governed by a board of regents.
    — Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
  • The bill appropriates $495 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
    — Carrie Brandon Elliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Definition of appropriates

Browse Nearby Words

preemptions
preempts
preen
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preempts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preempts. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of preempts for Spanish Speakers

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