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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Detectives said a passerby found the 60-year-old man partially sitting in a wheelchair that was overturned.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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Prior to his 2011 conviction, Jeffs was charged and convicted of being an accomplice to rape in September 2007 after coercing a 14-year-old to marry her 19-year-old cousin, though the ruling was later overturned by the Utah Supreme Court over faulty jury instructions, according to CBS News.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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McGuire said his biggest concern isn’t leadership mandates or AI-native new hires.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
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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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The agency has reportedly cancelled or delayed more than a billion dollars of grants for programs like school desegregation and disability services.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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In the video, Cardi B yelled at the top of her voice, threatening to cancel her concert.—
DeAsia Paige,
AJC.com,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Recent poll results shared at a Tuesday night hearing showed 55% of those in a random sample were favorable to a mill levy override.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Finally, the Ricoh C125 P has a 250-sheet capacity input tray, a single-sheet override input tray, and an optional 500-sheet paper tray.—
David English,
PC Magazine,
7 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
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The new offenses caused his bail to be revoked from his Quincy District Court cases until at least June 12.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
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How much to rely on that bot – and when to let go – is a moral quandary for the grieving former combat surgeon who had her license revoked after a tragedy.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
17 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 24 Apr. 2026.
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