preemptive
adjective
pre·emp·tive
prē-ˈem(p)-tiv 
1
a
: of or relating to preemption
b
: having power to preempt
2
of a bid in bridge
: higher than necessary and intended to shut out bids by the opponents
3
: giving a stockholder first option to purchase new stock in an amount proportionate to his existing holdings
4
: marked by the seizing of the initiative : initiated by oneself
a preemptive attack
preemptively
adverb
Examples of preemptive in a Sentence
The country took preemptive action against the perceived enemy.
a preemptive attack by the army
Recent Examples on the Web
As preemptive power cuts become more widespread, nursing homes are being forced to evaluate their preparedness.
—
Kate Ruder, CNN, 11 June 2024
Doing so would very likely spur a preemptive strike by Israel or even a joint strike by Israel and the United States.
—Zhou Bo, Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2024
President Joe Biden reportedly had to talk Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu out of an all-out preemptive attack against the group inside Lebanon.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 11 May 2024
The word meditations in the title may be a preemptive defense against the accusation that, as a complete work, Knife is somewhat inchoate.
—Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preemptive 
Kate Ruder, CNN, 11 June 2024
Doing so would very likely spur a preemptive strike by Israel or even a joint strike by Israel and the United States.
—Zhou Bo, Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2024
President Joe Biden reportedly had to talk Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu out of an all-out preemptive attack against the group inside Lebanon.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 11 May 2024
The word meditations in the title may be a preemptive defense against the accusation that, as a complete work, Knife is somewhat inchoate.
—Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preemptive
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preemptive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Preemptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preemptive. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
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preemptive
adjective
pre·emp·tive
prē-ˈemp-tiv
: of or relating to preemption
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