preexisting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of preexistingnext
as in previous
existing at an earlier time; existing before something else The insurance does not cover preexisting medical conditions. They made changes to the preexisting law.

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preexisting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of preexist
as in preceding
to go or come before in time an advanced Mesoamerican civilization whose apex and collapse preexisted the arrival of Europeans by hundreds of years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 preexisting
Adjective
The company also covers undetectable preexisting conditions, rust damage and improper installations. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 1 May 2026 Most producers have preexisting contracts with plastic suppliers. — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026 For example, if a Medicare Advantage plan withdraws from a market or leaves the Medicare program, its enrollees can qualify for a supplemental plan without being asked health questions or charged more for having preexisting conditions. — Julie Appleby, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 The employee, whose identity has not been revealed, had a preexisting medical issue and died, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preexisting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preexisting
  1. previous
  2. preceding
  3. precedent
  4. initial
  5. original
Adjective
  • The match against Rybakina will be her first at the WTA Tour level, having lost in the qualifying round earlier this year in Miami in her previous attempt.
    — Brian Mahoney, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Burn scars on the landscape from previous wildfires can also rapidly funnel water into dangerous downslope torrents.
    — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of previous
Verb
  • Both companies will deliver results on the heels of rivals that raised the bar, with Nvidia preceding Broadcom and CrowdStrike as the appetizer for Palo Alto.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, the clip immediately preceding the track footage is from a strip club.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of preceding
Adjective
  • Much of its aid has come in unsigned rulings on the emergency docket—ostensibly temporary and non-precedent-setting judgments that nevertheless carry serious consequences.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Their protections may have been further eroded with a precedent decision recently in which the Board of Immigration Appeals determined that DACA status alone is not enough to stop deportation.
    — Hallie Golden, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
Definition of precedent
Adjective
  • The film is downright Tarkovskian for its initial hour, unspooling through eerie abstractions that heighten its lingering domestic turmoil.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Entertainment Weekly reached out to Grande’s reps for comment at the time of the initial lyric changes.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of initial
Adjective
  • The shop’s mascot, a rabbit, is named Lewis, after the original Lewis & Duncan grocery store that once inhabited the building.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Historic Preservation Commission members voted Thursday to approve exterior changes to the mansion’s original design plan as the building, now more than a century old, undergoes restoration and renovation as part of a new residential development.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of original

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Cite this Entry

“Preexisting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preexisting. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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