Definitions Related words Phrases Mentions History Colors (New!)

Literary notes about preemptive (AI summary)

The word "preemptive" in literature often conveys a sense of proactive, anticipatory action intended to forestall a perceived threat or challenge. It is used to denote early, decisive moves—whether a legally sacrosanct right claimed before any dispute materializes [1, 2, 3] or a strategic military maneuver such as a strike intended to neutralize potential danger [4, 5, 6]. Furthermore, the term underscores anticipatory measures in other fields as well, from corporate decisions aiming to sidestep reputational risks [7, 8, 9] to metaphorical efforts like rehabilitating a mansion before its decline becomes entrenched [10].
  1. Staggered by this preemptive right, sacred to all miners, Cass stopped.
    — from Found at Blazing Star by Bret Harte
  2. He could only do that, however, with any show of justice, by establishing a preemptive right to it.
    — from The King Country; or, Explorations in New ZealandA Narrative of 600 Miles of Travel Through Maoriland. by J. H. (James Henry) Kerry-Nicholls
  3. Great Britain, who already held a preemptive title to Delagoa Bay, was also ready to advance the money, but was denied this privilege by Portugal.
    — from Neutral Rights and Obligations in the Anglo-Boer War by Robert Granville Campbell
  4. Maybe even make a preemptive strike against China?
    — from Project Daedalus by Thomas Hoover
  5. Results of the Marines’ preemptive action incensed General Bruce.
    — from The Final Campaign: Marines in the Victory on Okinawa by Joseph H. Alexander
  6. And we will strike a preemptive blow against the peril of a new China on our borders in the next century."
    — from Project Daedalus by Thomas Hoover
  7. Threatened with legal reprisals and "reputation risks" (being named-and- shamed by overzealous NGO's) - multinationals engage in preemptive sacking.
    — from Financial Crime and Corruption by Samuel Vaknin
  8. Manufacturers - fearing legal reprisals and "reputation risks" (naming-and-shaming by overzealous NGO's) - engage in preemptive sacking.
    — from Financial Crime and Corruption by Samuel Vaknin
  9. A few have even accepted the GPL as a preemptive protective mechanism for their own software programs.
    — from Free as in Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crusade for Free Software by Sam Williams
  10. The idea, as I explained it in the runabout, was a preemptive rehab of the Mansion.
    — from Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow

More usage examples

Also see: Google, News, Images, Wikipedia, Reddit, BlueSky


Home   Reverse Dictionary / Thesaurus   Datamuse   Word games   Spruce   Feedback   Dark mode   Random word   Help


Color thesaurus

Use OneLook to find colors for words and words for colors

See an example

Literary notes

Use OneLook to learn how words are used by great writers

See an example

Word games

Try our innovative vocabulary games

Play Now

Read the latest OneLook newsletter issue: Threepeat Redux