rescind

re·scind

verb \ri-ˈsind\

Definition of RESCIND

transitive verb

1

: to take away : remove

2

a : take back, cancel <refused to rescind the order> b : to abrogate (a contract) and restore the parties to the positions they would have occupied had there been no contract

3

: to make void (as an act) by action of the enacting authority or a superior authority : repeal

— re·scind·er noun

— re·scind·ment \-ˈsin(d)-mənt\ noun

Examples of RESCIND

1. The navy rescinded its ban on women sailors.
2. The company later rescinded its offer.
3. But Maria convinced Leverich that she had the authority to rescind the executor's decision to appoint him as biographer. —John Lahr, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 1994
4. The Navy barred its personnel from his church, but he challenged the decree in federal court as a constitutional violation of freedom of religion. Eventually, the Navy rescinded its ban. —Randall Samborn, National Law Journal, 14 Jan. 1991
5. The enemies these efforts made for him concocted charges of disloyalty, and following a hearing before the Atomic Energy Commission in 1954, Oppenheimer's security clearance was rescinded. —Kai Bird et al., Smithsonian, Aug. 2005

Origin of RESCIND

Latin rescindere to annul, from re- + scindere to cut — more at shed

First Known Use: 1579

Related to RESCIND

Synonyms: abandon, abort, call, call off, cry off, drop, recall, repeal, cancel, revoke, scrap, scrub

Antonyms: continue, keep

Related Words: abrogate, annul, invalidate, nullify, void, write off; recant, retract, take back, withdraw; countermand, reverse, roll back; break off, discontinue, end, halt, stop, terminate; hold back, interrupt, suspend; give up, relinquish, surrender

Near Antonyms: engage, pledge, promise; begin, commence, initiate, start; take on, take up, undertake

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with RESCIND

break wind, buckskinned, crosswind, downwind, exscind, headwind, prescind, tailwind, thick-skinned, thin-skinned, upwind, whirlwind, woodwind