preemptive

adjective

pre·emp·tive prē-ˈem(p)-tiv

: of or relating to preemption

: having power to preempt

of a bid in bridge : higher than necessary and intended to shut out bids by the opponents

: giving a stockholder first option to purchase new stock in an amount proportionate to his existing holdings

: 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

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For Fauci haters, this preemptive pardon was seen as an explicit tactic to block possible prosecution for his possible role in the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. —

Cory Franklin, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025 In the meantime, Beijing has time to build a relationship with Trump, entertain him in the Chinese capital or push for a preemptive deal to avert more severe economic penalties. —

Simone McCarthy, CNN, 3 Feb. 2025 Biden also issued preemptive pardons for Thompson and other committee members, including former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice chair, to protect against any retaliation from Trump. —

Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 1 Feb. 2025 The move is seen as a preemptive measure to mitigate potential cyber threats and prevent unauthorized access to critical government data. —

Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for preemptive