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
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At least some of Mahajan's family managed to jump out safely, but Mahajan was still inside when the carriage clipped another horse carriage and overturned.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
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As of mid-June, no state insurance AI rule has been challenged in court, let alone overturned.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Noun
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The political landscape around data centers has since changed since Newsom’s veto in October, said Dan Schnur, a political science professor who teaches at UC Berkeley and USC.—
Katie King,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
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Kansas lawmakers last year failed to get the two-thirds support needed to call themselves into a special session on redistricting and override a potential veto by the Democratic governor.—
David A. Lieb,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2026
Noun
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However researchers say there is not a process to evaluate whether schools are fully adhering to the mandate.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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Public health specialists have warned that military members may suffer unnecessary complications from the flu after the vaccination mandate was ended and fear that severe cases will continue to climb in subsequent flu seasons if preventive vaccinations aren't given to those most at risk.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Concerns about his takeover of traditionally nonpolitical celebrations have led some states to decline participating in Washington events and some entertainers to cancel plans to perform at them.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
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Several pre-tournament warmup games were canceled.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
22 June 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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Rollins credited the administration's crackdown on fraud and recipients who aren't legally authorized to be in the country, as well as the new rules.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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Growing numbers of Labour MPs called for Starmer to quit, but with Burnham unable to run as party leader – and hence prime minister – since rules and convention state that only serving MPs can do so, no one was willing or able to launch an official challenge.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Valentin, whose license was already revoked in New York at the time, fled the scene to New Jersey.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
21 June 2026
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Iran's training base was relocated from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, and the team's ticket allocation was revoked days before the tournament began.—
Olivia Shalhoup,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Noun
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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
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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 24 Jun. 2026.
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