COUNTERMAND Synonyms: 164 Similar and Opposite Words

countermand 1 of 2

verb

Definition of countermand

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

as in veto

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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

Verb

An 87th-minute apparent own goal for the Revolution was overturned after video review, with referee Sergii Boiko ruling Luca Langoni offside on the play.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
According to a police accident report from Saturday night’s fatality, witnesses told police that a vehicle traveling westbound on County Road 250 South reportedly disregarded a stop sign and struck Schultz’s vehicle, which overturned.

— Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of overturn

Noun

In the past two elections for governor, Pritzker used the morning after his victory to talk about the fall veto session in Springfield or the transition plan into a new term.

— Chris Tye, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Ford has pledged to bring back bills outgoing Lombardo killed in his record-breaking vetoes, including limiting the number of homes large corporations can buy and giving the state the power to adopt Medicaid negotiated prescription drug prices.

— Lucia Starbuck, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of veto

Verb

Unlikely influencers, from foodies to mothers to retirees, are weighing in on Proposition 40, a one-time 5% tax on the assets of the state’s roughly 200 billionaires and on other ballot measures created to cancel it.

— Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
The international governing body for soccer was allowed to cancel its extra reservations — up to 5,000 rooms per night — 120 days before arrival.

— PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of cancel

Noun

Any override should identify the decision-maker and record the reasons before release.

— Rohan Sharma, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026
Together, the groups argue that the executive branch lacks legal authority to intervene in state-run elections and is attempting an unprecedented override of state election administration with early voting already underway.

— Hugh Son, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of override

Noun

Voters in six states will soon decide whether to impose or expand voter identification requirements, including rules requiring mail voters to provide part of a driver’s license or Social Security number.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 25 Oct. 2026
Some states, however, have chosen not to adopt the federal rule because of concerns about near-term revenue losses.

— Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of rule

Verb

Prior to the Bilottis purchasing the building, John Seidel operated a saloon there until his liquor license was revoked by Blue Island’s City Council in 1918, according to the Blue Island Historical Society.

— Elena Tittel, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
The group had been considering revoking the endorsement of the council member over her views on Israel, which some considered insufficiently tough.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 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

Cite this Entry

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“Countermand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countermand. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of countermand

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noun

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