as in rejects
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 overrules
The appellate court's decision overrules a lower court judge who refused to dismiss Gary's lawsuit last year, leading gun manufacturers to appeal.
—
Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 29 Dec. 2025
The legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 79, overrules local zoning to boost development in busy areas of the Golden State, allowing developers to build tall apartment and condo buildings of up to nine stories in single-family areas near certain transit stops.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
The decision overrules a lower court's decision that had blocked USAID cuts.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2025
Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 29 Dec. 2025
The legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 79, overrules local zoning to boost development in busy areas of the Golden State, allowing developers to build tall apartment and condo buildings of up to nine stories in single-family areas near certain transit stops.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
The decision overrules a lower court's decision that had blocked USAID cuts.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overrules
Verb
-
Social media giants urged to tighten child safety after UK rejects blanket ban for teens.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Although many manufacturers have started rolling out alternatives containing less of the dangerous silica, the industry rejects assertions that the high-silica products can’t be handled safely.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ohm, a cynical skeptic, dismisses their claims.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Evy is the skeptic who dismisses the noises as either an online hoax or bad plumbing.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors this week sought a prison sentence of seven years and seven months for Marius Borg Høiby, who denies the rape accusations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Prosecutors this week sought a prison sentence of seven years and seven months for Marius Borg Høiby, who denies the rape allegations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There’s no denying that Caurón leans into the sentimental here and elsewhere, yet there’s a strong gust of catharsis that García Treviño transmits as Liborio’s bloodied body refuses to surrender.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
-
But this team refuses to follow that path.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Discord, confident as ever, ignores this warning.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Repeatedly promoting the scientific but impractical viewpoint of neurologists and sleep experts completely ignores how humans live in the real world.—
Letters to the Editor,
Washington Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overrules.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overrules. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
