as in to overturn
formal
to cancel (an order) especially by giving a new order
Orders to blow up the bridge were countermanded.
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in veto
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in mandate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of countermand
Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 30 May 2025
The Manhattan court countermanded the intransigence of the court stenographers and directed the daily publication of the Trump transcripts on a court website.
—Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 9 May 2025
Their instructions in effect countermanded the order of Mr. Musk across much of the government, challenging the broad authority President Trump has given the world’s richest man to make drastic changes to the federal bureaucracy.
—Chris Cameron, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
The ship’s first mate ordered the Arlington onto a course to hug the Canadian North Shore, which would have provided some cover from wind and waves, but Burke countermanded and ordered his ship back onto a course across the open lake, the discoverers said.
—Apress, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for countermand
Noun
What remains will be countermanded at the next change in power, the countermander then adding his or her new round of decrees, and on and on.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 30 May 2025
The Manhattan court countermanded the intransigence of the court stenographers and directed the daily publication of the Trump transcripts on a court website.
—Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 9 May 2025
Their instructions in effect countermanded the order of Mr. Musk across much of the government, challenging the broad authority President Trump has given the world’s richest man to make drastic changes to the federal bureaucracy.
—Chris Cameron, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
The ship’s first mate ordered the Arlington onto a course to hug the Canadian North Shore, which would have provided some cover from wind and waves, but Burke countermanded and ordered his ship back onto a course across the open lake, the discoverers said.
—Apress, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for countermand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for countermand
Verb
-
To change that, Congress would need to overturn home rule.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Tables were overturned, wine bottles were shattered and decorations were destroyed.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Artists for Artists: Miami, a nonprofit advocating for local artists, launched the survey in October following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ $32 million veto of arts funding from the state budget.—
Isabel Rivera,
Miami Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
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In Kansas, legislators overrode Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill barring trans athletes from women’s sports and passed a law preventing transgender Kansans from changing the gender on their IDs.—
Madeline King,
Kansas City Star,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Trust builds when leaders say no to expansion, but then protect the teams working inside the smaller mandate.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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Australia is attempting to ban those under sixteen from social media, including from YouTube, and is set to roll out age-verification mandates even for search engines.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Start your free trial and get access to 5 all-new premium newsletters—cancel anytime.—
Andrea J. Arratibel,
Wired News,
12 Aug. 2025
-
Realigning financial priorities was a key reason CBS gave for its decision to cancel The Late Show With Stephen Colbert; spending billions on UFC is one such move.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Build specific points where humans can intervene, adjust parameters or override decisions.—
Anna Turos,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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That’s, in part, because the Council would have to pull off an override on the Bally’s matter by early next week due to rules that set a tighter timeline for objecting to mayoral vetoes on land use matters.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Shred cheese: As always, follow one of the cardinal rules of casserole making in the South: Shred your own cheese.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
17 Aug. 2025
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Timing players is part of the rules, but it is not applied homogeneously in different tournaments and circumstances.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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He’s been locked up in MDC Brooklyn since October 2024, when Judge Diana Gujarati revoked his bond for flunking out of three drug treatment programs.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
12 Aug. 2025
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Last month, Congress approved the Trump administration’s rescission package, revoking $1.1 billion previously allocated to public radio and television.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But a sprawling expanse of abusive online behavior doesn’t technically violate federal laws or individual company policies.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Aug. 2025
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Restrictions should include prohibiting sharing information about residents, removing federal agents from local police facilities, and rescinding or narrowing authorizations to enforce local law.—
Spencer Reynolds,
Time,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Countermand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countermand. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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