Synonyms of abrogate

abrogate

verb

ˈa-brə-ˌgāt 

as in to abolish

to put an end to by formal action

the U.S. Congress can abrogate old treaties that are unfair to Native Americans

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abolish
• repeal
• cancel
• overturn
• nullify
• invalidate
• avoid
• annul
• rescind
• vacate
• negate
• void
• revoke
• dissolve
• quash
• dismiss
• withdraw
• suspend
• abate
• roll back
• set aside
• strike down
• disannul
• veto
• reject
• overrule
• eliminate
• reverse
• retract
• null
• remove
• override
• do away with
• forbid
• prohibit
• erase
• enjoin
• countermand
• recall
• abort
• ban
• outlaw
• eradicate
• disallow
• call off
• annihilate
• liquidate
• call
• drop
• throw out
• write off
• break down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enact
• establish
• legislate
• found
• lay down
• institute
• legitimate
• validate
• authorize
• ratify
• permit
• pass
• allow
• approve
• endorse
• prescribe
• legitimize
• legalize
• warrant
• formalize
• order
• clear
• sanction
• command
• indorse
• mandate
• decree

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb abrogate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of abrogate are annul, invalidate, negate, and nullify. While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," abrogate is like annul but more definitely implies a legal or official act.

a law to abrogate trading privileges

When is it sensible to use annul instead of abrogate?

The words annul and abrogate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action.

the treaty annuls all previous agreements

When could invalidate be used to replace abrogate?

The synonyms invalidate and abrogate are sometimes interchangeable, but invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness.

the court invalidated the statute

When might negate be a better fit than abrogate?

While the synonyms negate and abrogate are close in meaning, negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other.

the arguments negate each other

In what contexts can nullify take the place of abrogate?

Although the words nullify and abrogate have much in common, nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something.

a penalty nullified the touchdown

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of abrogate

The edict was abrogated in 1918, according to canon law expert Edward Peters of Detroit’s Sacred Heart Major Seminary. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 4 May 2025

When it was abrogated over a monetary policy dispute in October 1987, the dollar was in virtual free fall as Treasury yields surged by 0.5% and the U.S. stock market sold off by more 20% in a single day. —Nick Sargen, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Trump abrogated that deal during his first term, pulling the U.S. out of it, giving Iran the rationale to restart its program. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025

Penn can and should be upgraded to accommodate greater capacity, abrogating Amtrak’s seizure of Block 780. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025

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