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abol·ish | \ ə-ˈbä-lish 
\
\abolished; abolishing; abolishes
Definition of abolish
: to end the observance or effect of (something, such as a law) : to completely do away with (something) : annul abolish a law abolish slavery
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Other Words from abolish
abolishable \ ə-ˈbä-li-shə-bəl \ adjective
\ adjectiveabolisher noun
abolishment \ ə-ˈbä-lish-mənt \ noun
\ nounSynonyms for abolish
Synonyms
- abate,
- abrogate,
- annul,
- avoid,
- cancel,
- disannul,
- dissolve,
- invalidate,
- negate,
- null,
- nullify,
- quash,
- repeal,
- rescind,
- roll back,
- strike down,
- vacate,
- void
Examples of abolish in a Sentence
He is in favor of abolishing the death penalty.
the U.S. abolished slavery by constitutional amendment on December 6, 1865
Recent Examples on the Web Beyond that, the protesters say the confessional system should be abolished to accommodate a younger generation that has no memories of the civil war and has broken away from religious affiliations.
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Dana Khraiche | Bloomberg, Washington Post, "Why Lebanon Protesters Target Religion-Based Politics," 21 Nov. 2019 Business didn’t go away; it wasn’t abolished; capitalists didn’t go into gulags.
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Anand Giridharadas, Time, "How America’s Elites Lost Their Grip," 21 Nov. 2019 Set in England in 1965, Hangmen explores what Britain’s (second most) famous executioner will do now that hanging has been abolished.
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Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, "Martin McDonagh’s award-winning play Hangmen heading to Broadway," 18 Nov. 2019 Some believe the rebels wanted to seize all of Orleans Territory, which includes present-day New Orleans, and establish a state where human bondage was abolished.
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Richard Fausset, New York Times, "With a Slave Rebellion Re-enactment, an Artist Revives Forgotten History," 9 Nov. 2019 To supporters of reparations, the idea that slavery's impacts are not widely felt some 150 years after it was abolished is a pervasive myth.
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Scottie Andrew, CNN, "Nearly 75% of African Americans support reparations for slavery. Only 15% of white Americans do, a poll says," 28 Oct. 2019 Ayman al-Zawahri, al-Qaida’s top leader, tried to end the squabbling and ordered al-Baghdadi’s group to be abolished.
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Zeina Karam, Twin Cities, "Islamic State leader leaves a legacy of terror," 27 Oct. 2019 Ayman al-Zawahri, al-Qaida's top leader, tried to end the squabbling and ordered al-Baghdadi's group to be abolished.
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Author: Adam Schreck And Zeina Karam, Anchorage Daily News, "Islamic State leader leaves a legacy of terror," 27 Oct. 2019 Goucher College was founded in 1885 — about 20 years after slavery was abolished in the United States — as Woman’s College of Baltimore City.
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Cody Boteler, baltimoresun.com, "Goucher College to remove racist language in land deed, recognize slavery’s legacy on campus," 17 Oct. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abolish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for abolish
abolish
verbabol·ish | \ ə-ˈbä-lish \
\abolished; abolishing
Kids Definition of abolish
: to do away with : put an end to
abolish discrimination
abolish
transitive verbabol·ish
Legal Definition of abolish
: to end the observance or effect of : annul
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Time Traveler for abolish
The first known use of abolish was in the 15th century
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