strike down

verb

struck down; struck down also stricken down; striking down; strikes down

transitive verb

: annul, nullify

The board struck down the appointment.

especially : to declare (a law) illegal and unenforceable

The Supreme Court struck down the law.

Synonyms of strike down

• abolish
• repeal
• cancel
• set aside
• roll back
• avoid
• overturn

Examples of strike down in a Sentence

a law that was later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as unconstitutional

Recent Examples on the Web

Five of Maiava’s first seven completions went to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, one of which came on a 31-yard strike down the seam for a touchdown despite tight coverage. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026

Johns Hopkins eliminated its legacy preference years before the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action. — Jayson Weingarten, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026

Trump can impose a ban unilaterally thanks to sweeping authorities provided by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act — the same law that provided his initial authority for tariffs since struck down by the Supreme Court. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Lawmakers, including many from Flávio Bolsonaro's Liberal Party, struck down a Lula order for tax hikes on online betting and virtual casinos in October last year. — ABC News, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for strike down

• chinatown
• tumbledown
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown

Kids Definition

strike down

verb

: to make null and void : annul

struck down the proposal

especially : to declare (a law) illegal and unenforceable

the court struck down the law

Legal Definition

strike down

transitive verb

: annul, nullify

the trustee…can strike down transfers

—J. J. White and R. S. Summers

especially : to declare (a law) illegal and unenforceable

the court struck down death penalty provisions

—L. H. Tribe