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
In March 2021, Depp's attempt to overturn the decision was overruled.
—
Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 25 Jan. 2026
Since Lemon was overruled, the Texas legislatures have written bills to allow prayer in public schools and required the Ten Commandments be posted in every classroom.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Jan. 2026
Eventually, Judge Alexander Tisch overruled the objection and allowed Powell to continue.
—Luke Cyphers, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2026
On Wednesday, the Minnesota Supreme Court overruled the lower courts, reopening the case by sending it back to the district court to reinstate the wage-theft claims for further proceedings.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
The decision blocking that evidence was appealed to the state’s high court, which overruled the lower courts last month and found that police were justified in seizing the evidence without a warrant.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
According to Rob Shuter, William warned the King that allowing the princesses to walk with the rest of the family wasn’t a great idea, but the King overruled him.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Dec. 2025
As mayor, Higgins has no authority over the city bureaucracy but does have the power to hire and fire the city manager — provided she isn’t overruled by the City Commission.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 29 Dec. 2025
Those states — including Texas — would be able to enforce those bans if the precedent set by Obergefell is overruled.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 22 Dec. 2025
Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 25 Jan. 2026
Since Lemon was overruled, the Texas legislatures have written bills to allow prayer in public schools and required the Ten Commandments be posted in every classroom.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Jan. 2026
Eventually, Judge Alexander Tisch overruled the objection and allowed Powell to continue.
—Luke Cyphers, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2026
On Wednesday, the Minnesota Supreme Court overruled the lower courts, reopening the case by sending it back to the district court to reinstate the wage-theft claims for further proceedings.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
The decision blocking that evidence was appealed to the state’s high court, which overruled the lower courts last month and found that police were justified in seizing the evidence without a warrant.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
According to Rob Shuter, William warned the King that allowing the princesses to walk with the rest of the family wasn’t a great idea, but the King overruled him.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Dec. 2025
As mayor, Higgins has no authority over the city bureaucracy but does have the power to hire and fire the city manager — provided she isn’t overruled by the City Commission.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 29 Dec. 2025
Those states — including Texas — would be able to enforce those bans if the precedent set by Obergefell is overruled.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 22 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overruled
Verb
-
Earlier, Senate Democrats rejected Republican proposals to address their demands through an executive order or separate legislation, which would not require the existing measure to go back through the House.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Among other measures, the settlement stipulates that Columbia won't consider race in admissions, programming or hiring, will provide a demographic and academics breakdown of all rejected and admitted students, and will review its international admissions process.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sprowls sued, and an appellate court dismissed the lawsuit, siding with the county party, Davis said.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
-
In November, a federal judge dismissed the charges against both Comey and James, finding that Halligan had been unlawfully appointed.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
On Monday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles had denied Thompson's request to commute his death sentence to a lesser penalty.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Tehran has denied the allegations.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike his friends Fritz Lang and Marlene Dietrich, Gerron refused to leave Germany and was ultimately sent to the Theresienstadt (Terezin) Ghetto, along with many other cultural icons of his time.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In his news conference, Zverev refused to be drawn on his on-court outburst.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Banfield's at-times tense testimony comes after his attorney scrutinized the county's investigation into the defendant, arguing that officials, almost since the beginning, forced a theory that the husband had catfished and killed his wife, and ignored evidence that undermined that conclusion.—
OLIVIA DIAZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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Their position ignored the Ukrainian perspective on the issue, thus excluding Ukrainians as the affected party from understanding and communicating current and historical narratives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overruled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overruled. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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