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.
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Recent Examples of overruled
The federal appeals court overruled their 2020 ban by saying the agency didn’t have the proper authority to make that decision.
—
O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 1 June 2026
But the judge overruled that argument.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Democrats were dealt another blow on Friday when the Virginia Supreme Court overruled a referendum that voters narrowly approved in April to alter their congressional map, which could have sent up to four additional Democratic members to Congress.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 11 May 2026
Makary and his deputies have also regularly overruled career staff, often with nakedly political motives.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 10 May 2026
Residents have taken to the streets in recent days to protest the impending arrival of the MV Hondius to the Canary Islands, after the Spanish government overruled local leaders to grant permission for the ship to anchor offshore Sunday.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 9 May 2026
Higher courts boost Trump efforts The AP’s review also found that higher courts, including the Supreme Court, overruled the district courts and sided with the White House in nearly half of the 31 cases.
—Sudhin Thanawala, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
When a body washes ashore in the Long Island vacation town of Amity, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) tries to close the beaches only to be overruled by the mayor, Vaughn (Murray Hamilton), who fears the loss of tourist revenue.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 29 Apr. 2026
In 2024, the court overruled a lower court’s finding of racial vote dilution in South Carolina.
—Sam D. Hayes, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2026
O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 1 June 2026
But the judge overruled that argument.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Democrats were dealt another blow on Friday when the Virginia Supreme Court overruled a referendum that voters narrowly approved in April to alter their congressional map, which could have sent up to four additional Democratic members to Congress.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 11 May 2026
Makary and his deputies have also regularly overruled career staff, often with nakedly political motives.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 10 May 2026
Residents have taken to the streets in recent days to protest the impending arrival of the MV Hondius to the Canary Islands, after the Spanish government overruled local leaders to grant permission for the ship to anchor offshore Sunday.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 9 May 2026
Higher courts boost Trump efforts The AP’s review also found that higher courts, including the Supreme Court, overruled the district courts and sided with the White House in nearly half of the 31 cases.
—Sudhin Thanawala, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
When a body washes ashore in the Long Island vacation town of Amity, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) tries to close the beaches only to be overruled by the mayor, Vaughn (Murray Hamilton), who fears the loss of tourist revenue.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 29 Apr. 2026
In 2024, the court overruled a lower court’s finding of racial vote dilution in South Carolina.
—Sam D. Hayes, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overruled
Verb
-
The ceasefire hinged on an end to Hezbollah attacks, but the group was not party to the talks and its leader rejected the pact.—
Frederik Pleitgen,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
That ad, like the others, was rejected by WMATA, according to the lawsuit.—
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The novel was initially ignored, and then—after Graham Greene called it one of the best books of the year—dismissed, and then banned, first in the UK and then in France.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
Resuming on 55-5 and requiring 254 for an unlikely win, New Zealand lost its remaining five wickets inside the first two hours of play and was dismissed for 138.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The governors, Alfonso Durazo of Sonora and Américo Villarreal Anaya of Tamaulipas, denied any wrongdoing and called accusations against them an attempt to undermine Mexican sovereignty.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Mullin denied the accusations, saying said his agency was not racist.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The stories below belong to 13 Black women who refused to be reduced to a statistic.—
Ayren Jackson-Cannady,
SELF,
29 May 2026
-
Allen refused to unload the bike, which weighed roughly 300 pounds, according to court records.—
Rose Evans
Updated May 29,
Idaho Statesman,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Leah Sylvis said Maluchnik ignored many of her emails about the need to have a discussion district having too few school psychologists.—
Ricky Sayer,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
What those changes are — and who should bear the brunt of them — is a complicated and largely ignored debate happening right now.—
Anita Chabria,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overruled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overruled. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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