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
At one point, Chesser claimed a Mecklenburg County social services employee called for Moody to be removed from the home but was overruled by a supervisor.
—
Mary Ramsey
june 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026
Judge John Roach overruled the objection.
—J.d. Miles, CBS News, 3 June 2026
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
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
Mary Ramsey
june 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026
Judge John Roach overruled the objection.
—J.d. Miles, CBS News, 3 June 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overruled
Verb
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In May 2023, Quiñones rejected a call-up to the national team, however, and began playing for Mexico later that year.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
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But initial attempts to send her to Tahiti, a French dependency, about 1,350 miles — or a 30-hour sea journey — from Pitcairn, were rejected by French Polynesian authorities.—
Matthew Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
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In a 55-page decision, a superior court judge has dismissed significant portions of a lawsuit filed by the former Chief Human Resources Officer of Boston Water and Sewer, including all claims against the Herald, alleging she was fired as part of a wide-ranging conspiracy.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
14 June 2026
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All of which spilled into public view at the City Council meeting, with commissioners claiming that, after numerous meetings, the mayor’s office dismissed their concerns and recommendations for this particular reappointment to the board.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
Verb
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But ever since Hay filed his civil suit against Combs, the musician’s attorneys have fiercely denied his allegations.—
Elizabeth Wagmeister,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
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Boats arriving from Haiti’s seaports will soon be required to operate under enhanced security measures or risk being denied entry into the United States.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The British newspaper reported that Hockney is believed to have turned down a knighthood on several occasions and is said to have once refused an invitation to paint the late Queen Elizabeth.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
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At multiple locations blocks from the Garden, crowds refused numerous verbal commands to disperse, police said.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The controversy surrounding the transition blush technique is just another example of how easily, in many different fields and industries, Black women’s contributions go ignored, overlooked and erased.—
Janice Gassam Asare,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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Educators play a crucial role in our society, and the affordability crisis among America’s teachers can no longer be ignored.—
Randi Weingarten,
Time,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overruled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overruled. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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