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
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
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 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
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
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 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
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Lawyers also argued the conviction should be overturned because the verdict was tainted by the media attention and due to faulty instructions to the jury.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
-
In 2005, Yates’ conviction was overturned by the Texas Court of Appeals.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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To become Florida law, bills need to survive committee hearings, pass votes in the House and Senate and avoid the governor’s veto pen.—
Ryan Ballogg,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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Congress attempted to rein in that authority after the Vietnam War with the War Powers Resolution, passed over Republican President Richard Nixon’s veto.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Since the mandate, neural tube defects have dramatically declined in almost every single ethnic population except for Latinos, according to Jaffery.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
January 12,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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Corporate and government leaders regularly reissue return-to-office mandates, citing performance concerns.—
Justin Harlan,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That band faces a similar situation as Mariachi Joya Azteca, with at least two major events canceled in 2025.—
Juan Cordoba,
Arkansas Online,
12 Jan. 2026
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The Anker 737 Power Bank keeps multiple devices running and charging, from your phone to your noise-canceling headphones, without weighing down your bag.—
Claire Gallam,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Stein’s decision to back a challenger over an incumbent from his own party comes after Cunningham, a longtime Charlotte Democrat first elected in 2012, sided with Republicans on multiple veto override votes.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Jan. 2026
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Recently the town of Lexington passed a $660M Prop 2½ override to build its new high school.—
Michael Maguire,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
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While Glaser tones it down on stage, the same rules don’t apply for the red carpet.—
Emily St. Martin,
Oc Register,
12 Jan. 2026
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The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which determined each year's nominees until they were deposed as the deciding committee in 2022 in the wake of a scandal, revised its rules around animation in 2014.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While multiple sources familiar with the holiday events deny online rumors that Mar-a-Lago threatened to revoke the memberships of guests who took photos of Barron over the holidays, insiders tell PEOPLE that there's an unspoken rule about how to treat the most private member of the first family.—
Linda Marx,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Colbert was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Orleans Parish in May, after a judge revoked her probation in a similar but unrelated case.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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 13 Jan. 2026.
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