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
Starmer claims he wasn’t told that Mandelson failed security vetting before being appointed; the Foreign Office overruled the decision without informing the prime minister.
—
Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Starmer says he was not informed that the Foreign Office had overruled the recommendation of security officials in early 2025 not to give Peter Mandelson the job.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
In this instance, they were overruled by Barr and his deputies, but former officials said this was a rare case in which their guidance was ignored.
—Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 13 Apr. 2026
If allowed to stand, this poses problems for utilities, grid operators, and regulators who plan for decades-long timeframes, only to be overruled by short-term political imperatives that favor certain industries.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
Plate umpire Manny Gonzalez signaled safe but he, too, was overruled by the replay umpire.
—CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The Delaware Supreme Court in December 2025 overruled McCormick and reinstated the pay plan.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Mayor Mamdani has once wisely again overruled Candidate Mamdani, reversing a brash and reckless campaign promise with the sober reality of governing, this one on the CityFHEPS housing voucher program.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
The groups acknowledged concerns voiced by their own members but overruled those objections based on the international spirit of the event.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Starmer says he was not informed that the Foreign Office had overruled the recommendation of security officials in early 2025 not to give Peter Mandelson the job.
—ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
In this instance, they were overruled by Barr and his deputies, but former officials said this was a rare case in which their guidance was ignored.
—Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 13 Apr. 2026
If allowed to stand, this poses problems for utilities, grid operators, and regulators who plan for decades-long timeframes, only to be overruled by short-term political imperatives that favor certain industries.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
Plate umpire Manny Gonzalez signaled safe but he, too, was overruled by the replay umpire.
—CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The Delaware Supreme Court in December 2025 overruled McCormick and reinstated the pay plan.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Mayor Mamdani has once wisely again overruled Candidate Mamdani, reversing a brash and reckless campaign promise with the sober reality of governing, this one on the CityFHEPS housing voucher program.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
The groups acknowledged concerns voiced by their own members but overruled those objections based on the international spirit of the event.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overruled
Verb
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Prosecutors said Maya’s ballot was counted in the recall election, but rejected the following year.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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The shareholders, however, rejected WBD CEO David Zaslav‘s lucrative compensation package, sending a message to its board in the process.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some claims have been dismissed or settled out of court, while others are ongoing.—
Michael Kaplan,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
For as long as medicine has been practiced, women’s health concerns have been minimized, misdiagnosed or dismissed.—
Dr. Sanjay Gupta,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The same City who denied Arsenal title glory in 2023 and 2024.—
Nnamdi Onyeagwara,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Jordan was then interviewed by a private investigator hired by Jackson’s attorneys, and denied being molested by the singer.—
Amelia McDonell-Parry,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The county, however, refused to comply with the order to close in that case and has continued operating Los Padrinos in defiance.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspect refused, prompting a police chase.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Students argue that their desires were ignored when the board moved the upcoming Laguna Beach High graduation ceremony back to the smaller Irvine Bowl after several years of being held in the campus stadium.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
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The repricing reflects a structural vulnerability that can no longer be ignored.—
Tenzin Seldon,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overruled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overruled. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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