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
-
About $589 million in revenue generated from the tax has not been used, which in part is due to a lack of flexibility in how the money can be used, as well as due to legal concerns amid a threat to overturn the initiative.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Family members said it’s been a long road of frustration, agony and sadness watching Hitchcock’s death sentences get overturned three times amid the nearly a dozen appeals his attorneys have filed over the decades.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps more significantly, Graham King, the producer, needed approval for the music from the Jackson estate, effectively giving it veto power over the project.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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After the Brussels meeting, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that without Orban’s veto, action could be coming soon, such as imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
McGuire said his biggest concern isn’t leadership mandates or AI-native new hires.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
-
When the owners of Woodmark Apartments in Sebastopol constructed it, the owners accepted money from the USDA with a mandate that it be used for farmworker housing.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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They were also evacuated soon afterward, and the event canceled, to be rescheduled.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The annual dinner was later canceled and will be rescheduled.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Cunningham, who lost a three-person Democratic primary in March after bucking her party on a veto override vote, is now registered as an unaffiliated voter.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Denver voters last approved a $32 million override in 2020, which DPS used to increase teacher wages and fund mental health, nursing and special education services.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That means Gotham can tap into an additional $1 million in funds above the salary cap to pay her when the rule comes into effect on July 1.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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The collection of new rules underwent several rounds of revisions to meet definitions in state law, address resident concerns and create a plan for enforcement, according to city staff.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Already, the State Department has revoked the visas of several Morena lawmakers, including the governor of Baja California.—
Steve Fisher,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Newsom's office said California has revoked more than 280 hospice licenses, maintained a moratorium on new providers and has hundreds more operators under investigation.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 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 27 Apr. 2026.
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