as in rejected
to decide that (something or someone) is wrong; to rule against (something or someone)
The judge overruled the objection. His conviction was overruled by the supreme court.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 overruled
Earlier this year, Florida trustees picked Michigan president Santa Ono as the next president, but they were overruled by the board that oversees the state’s higher education.
—
Matt Baker, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The felony charge was quickly dismissed, but the magistrate who made that decision was overruled by Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Stacey DeGraffenreid.
—Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Oct. 2025
The federal courts overruled it, ordering the new trial.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 24 Sep. 2025
Tensions boiled over in recent years as Ben & Jerry’s opted to pull its operations from Israel, a decision that was overruled by Unilever.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Doe's lawyers argued instead that Grimm remains binding within the circuit unless and until overruled.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Namely, the fact that Powell’s booksellers had been raising concerns about the use AI art long before the merch drop—concerns that management repeatedly overruled.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
More on the Voters Right to Know Act that 72% of Arizona voters passed in 2022 and why it could be overruled.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
While the Board of Immigration Appeals has final say in the case and Bondi can not directly rule, the attorney general has authority to intervene in any of the board’s cases and overruled a previously permissible legal standard from the Biden administration's policy.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
Matt Baker, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The felony charge was quickly dismissed, but the magistrate who made that decision was overruled by Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Stacey DeGraffenreid.
—Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Oct. 2025
The federal courts overruled it, ordering the new trial.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 24 Sep. 2025
Tensions boiled over in recent years as Ben & Jerry’s opted to pull its operations from Israel, a decision that was overruled by Unilever.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Doe's lawyers argued instead that Grimm remains binding within the circuit unless and until overruled.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Namely, the fact that Powell’s booksellers had been raising concerns about the use AI art long before the merch drop—concerns that management repeatedly overruled.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
More on the Voters Right to Know Act that 72% of Arizona voters passed in 2022 and why it could be overruled.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
While the Board of Immigration Appeals has final say in the case and Bondi can not directly rule, the attorney general has authority to intervene in any of the board’s cases and overruled a previously permissible legal standard from the Biden administration's policy.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overruled
Verb
-
Much of the derision was coming from the performers’ contemporaries — some of whom had rejected the invite on moral and political grounds, but many who were not actually invited to perform.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Some 88 percent of mice rejected pancreatic cancer, 75 percent of mice did for breast cancer and 69 percent rejected melanoma tumors.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Chiefs are back, just as quickly as they were dismissed, and that’s in more than ways than post-game one-liners exuding some confidence after a convincing 30-17 win against the red-hot Lions.—
Sam McDowell
October 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
And these cases may very well be dismissed on that basis.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Advertisement Israel has consistently denied accusations of genocide.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Customers frequently commend the company’s customer service, but some had complaints about denied claims and difficulties canceling contracts.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ares was in development for a decade, but former Disney exec Sean Bailey refused to give up and shepherded the project when serving as head of Disney’s live-action studio.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Oct. 2025
-
In southern Gaza, a group opposed to Hamas known as the Popular Forces has refused to lay down its arms.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The mass firings come just two months after the CDC experienced a mass exodus of top officials from the agency, who said they were prompted to resign in August after Kennedy sidelined officials and ignored scientific research and protocols since he was assigned to his role to lead the department.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Yet when spring training rolls back around next year, the Yankees’ promise to fans will begin anew and recent shortcomings will be ignored.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Overruled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overruled. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share