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
George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 2 July 2025
We also were concerned that if the anti-congestion pricing Donald Trump was returned to the White House, the tolls that began later on would be at a greater risk of being countermanded by Washington.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
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 concept of a deep state is valuable in its original context, the study of developing countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey, where shadowy elites in the military and government ministries have been known to countermand or simply defy democratic directives.
—Jon D. Michaels, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2017
See All Example Sentences for countermand
Verb
Trump’s Achilles’ heel, where his policies may yet be countermanded by the judicial branch, are his arbitrary tariffs, having their root in a delegation as broad as that for FDR’s National Recovery Administration.
—George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 2 July 2025
We also were concerned that if the anti-congestion pricing Donald Trump was returned to the White House, the tolls that began later on would be at a greater risk of being countermanded by Washington.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
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 concept of a deep state is valuable in its original context, the study of developing countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey, where shadowy elites in the military and government ministries have been known to countermand or simply defy democratic directives.
—Jon D. Michaels, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2017
See All Example Sentences for countermand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for countermand
Verb
-
Juan Soto's apparent homer leading off the ninth was overturned due to fan interference, sending Soto to second with a double.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
-
In the second half, Team USA scored again, after receiving two yellow cards, one of which overturned.—
Zuri Primos
June 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Days later, Congress overrode the veto.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
8 June 2026
-
That in itself would provide another strong argument for overriding such a veto.—
Steven Andreasen,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
An insurance mandate would decrease the taxpayer money spent on the HACCP, reducing the number of children who need the program’s assistance.—
Liana Handler
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
This structure allows advisory teams to focus on client outcomes rather than institutional growth mandates.—
Elie Nour,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Madison Square Garden canceled its official Game 4 watch party amid a public dispute with city officials over security restrictions.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
In a statement to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the event's producer Live Nation explained that the concert was canceled because Stewart had a recurrence of a sinus infection.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Alabama ended the practice of judicial override in 2017 and no longer allows a judge to disregard a jury’s sentencing decision in death penalty cases.—
Kim Chandler,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
But using override authority allowed under Alabama law, the judge in the case sentenced Lee to death.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
According to Academy rules, the number of nominees in each category is determined by the volume of submissions, with the field expanding to a sixth lead or supporting nominee only once entries cross the 80-submission threshold.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
At first glance, FIFA’s new rule may appear as basic player safety.—
Dilan Gomih,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
This incident underscores the precarious nature of relying on external AI tools, as access can be revoked without warning.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
Those requirements caused Anthropic to revoke access to the models for everyone.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
The appropriate remedy is congressional overruling of the Marquette case so as to allow the states to regulate loans to their own citizens.—
George Liebmann,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Apr. 2026
-
In recent years, the court’s conservative majority overruling of major, longstanding precedents has become a defining feature of Roberts’ tenure.—
Devin Dwyer,
ABC News,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Countermand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countermand. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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