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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Now, a new study argues that the ancient impact likely came from north to south, overturning some earlier interpretations and potentially changing the scientific value of NASA’s future Artemis missions.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
9 May 2026
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The county plan, meanwhile, has been blessed at different times by other city boards, including the historic preservation board, the urban design review board and the City Commission, sometimes after initial denials were overturned by courts.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The European Union’s foreign ministers agreed Monday to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers over violence against Palestinians after Hungary’s new government lifted the country’s veto.—
Beatriz Ríos,
Washington Post,
11 May 2026
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The most ambitious legislative attempt at curbing presidential war-making was the War Powers Resolution of 1973, passed by Congress over a veto by President Richard Nixon.—
James Cramer,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Mayor's stance on class-size requirements Mamdani's budget also slows down the timeline for getting classroom sizes down to a state mandate while the city works to hire 1,000 new teachers, costing $122 million.—
Amethyst Martinez,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
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The union alleged that the state abandoned bargaining over the issue and plans to unilaterally impose the four-day mandate.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
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There’s a report in Bloomberg recently that half of data center plans are kind of stalled or being canceled because of material issues and things like that.—
Fortune Editors,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
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In the preceding weeks, at least 20 of North Carolina’s 115 public school districts canceled Friday classes due to a high number of teachers requesting leave to participate in the protest.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
10 May 2026
Noun
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Annually update first responder interaction plans, access to manual vehicle override systems, two-way communication links with 30-second response times and training requirements to ensure safe and timely interactions.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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Considering an override and voluntary tax increase is a non-starter for Methuen residents, the mayor said.—
Kristina Rex,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Hernandez will continue competing under CIF rules permitting transgender participation and is scheduled to compete Saturday, May 16, before advancing to the CIF finals in Clovis later this month.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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According to Anthropic, decisions made before 2028 could determine whether democratic nations or authoritarian governments shape the future rules and standards surrounding advanced AI.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Verb
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King’s federal indictment on multiple drug offenses, including distributing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, prompted a state judge on Friday to revoke his conditional release from Norfolk Superior Court.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
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Once a passport is revoked, it may no longer be used for travel, even if the debt is later paid, according to State Department guidance.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 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 16 May. 2026.
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