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countermand 1 of 2

verb

Definition of countermandnext
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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countermand

2 of 2

noun

1
as in veto

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2
as in mandate

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of countermand
Verb
Advertisement But the Secretary General cannot countermand the nations. — Mark Webber, Time, 24 July 2026 Another said Trump is countermanding the Pentagon, which had made a decision without presidential approval. — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025 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 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 See All Example Sentences for countermand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for countermand
  1. overturn
  2. veto
  3. mandate
  4. cancel
  5. override
  6. rule
  7. revoke
  8. overruling
Verb
  • His appellate legal team has been aggressively searching for any and every legal avenue that would overturn the judge’s sentence, nullify the jury’s guilty verdict, or even discredit the very criminal law that Combs was prosecuted under.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Knauss also shared photos of the devastation from the hurricane, which showed chairs overturned in the sanctuary and pools of water that damaged every corner of the facility.
    — Raymond Strickland, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of overturn
Noun
  • Republicans and some Democrats are calling for strengthening the office in the upcoming veto session.
    — Brenden Moore, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The General Assembly should pass the bill during its November veto session.
    — John Schmidt, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of veto
Noun
  • Many commercial leases and client contracts require proof of general liability coverage before a business can even sign, which often functions as a de facto requirement for many Kansas small businesses even without a state mandate behind it.
    — Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Following last week's interest rate hike, Goolsbee was putting into perspective what to expect going forward in the Fed's tug-of-war between its dual mandate of fostering price stability and maximizing employment.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz,Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of mandate
Verb
  • Some earlier assassins expected it of themselves, canceling plots that would have killed bystanders.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The show has been canceled due to the field conditions at 1846 Farms being too muddy.
    — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of cancel
Noun
  • In 2017, Alabama abolished judicial override and stopped allowing judges to change juries' sentencing decision in capital cases.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The practice − called judicial override − was abolished in Alabama in 2017 but the move did not apply to old cases.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of override
Noun
  • Their sweeping measure, announced earlier this month, would permanently ban the development and deployment of artificial superintelligence and temporarily pause advanced AI development until federal safety rules are established.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Started by linebacker Jordyn Brooks, the three-takeaway rule has transformed into a weekly gauge in how the defense performs.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of rule
Verb
  • The White House barred entry to staffers from the three outlets on Saturday and revoked their press passes.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The White House has yet to provide a legal justification for revoking the credentials of the news outlets’ correspondents.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of revoke
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
Definition of overruling

Browse Nearby Words

counterintelligence
countermand
countermanded
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Cite this Entry

“Countermand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countermand. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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