repeal

1 the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to the long overdue repeal of laws prohibiting interracial marriage Synonyms abandonment, abortion, calling, calling off, dropping, recall, recision, cancellation, rescission, revocationRelated Words annulment, invalidation, neutralization, nullification, voidance; abolishment, abolition, ending, halting, stopping, termination; giving up, relinquishment, surrender; reversal, rollbackNear Antonyms beginning, commencement, initiation; engagement, undertakingAntonyms continuation

2 the doing away with something by formal action the repeal of Prohibition during Franklin D. Roosevelt's first term Synonyms abatement, abolishment, abrogation, annulment, avoidance, cancellation (also cancelation), defeasance, dissolution, invalidation, negation, nullification, quashing, abolition, rescindment, voidingRelated Words abortion, calling off, recall; countermand, override, overruling, overturn, veto; retraction, reversal, revocation, suspension, withdrawal; banning, enjoining, forbiddance, outlawing, prohibition; disallowance, dismissal, rejection; elimination, eradication, erasure, liquidation, removalNear Antonyms enactment, legislation; establishment, founding, institution; formalization, legalization, legitimation, legitimization, validation; passing, ratification; approval, authorization, clearance, endorsement (also indorsement), permission, sanctioning; commandment, decreeing, mandating, ordering, prescription

1 to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) the company called the furniture store to repeal the order for six new desks Synonyms abandon, abort, call, call off, cry off, drop, recall, cancel, rescind, revoke, scrap, scrubRelated Words abrogate, annul, invalidate, nullify, void, write off; recant, retract, take back, withdraw; countermand, reverse, roll back; break off, discontinue, end, halt, stop, terminate; hold back, interrupt, suspend; give up, relinquish, surrenderNear Antonyms engage, pledge, promise; begin, commence, initiate, start; take on, take up, undertakeAntonyms continue, keep

2 to put an end to by formal action in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again Synonyms abate, abrogate, annul, avoid, cancel, disannul, dissolve, invalidate, negate, null, nullify, quash, abolish, rescind, roll back, strike down, vacate, voidRelated Words countermand, override, overrule, overturn, veto; abort, call, call off, drop, recall, retract, reverse, revoke, suspend, withdraw; ban, enjoin, forbid, outlaw, prohibit; disallow, dismiss, reject; annihilate, break down, eliminate, eradicate, erase, liquidate, remove, throw out, write offNear Antonyms enact, lay down, legislate; establish, found, institute; formalize, legalize, legitimate, legitimize, validate; pass, ratify; allow, approve, authorize, clear, endorse (also indorse), permit, sanction, warrant; command, decree, mandate, order, prescribe

3 to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to) if I find that you have been lying about this, I'll instantly repeal every promise I made to you Synonyms abnegate, forswear (also foreswear), recant, renege, renounce, abjure, repudiate, retract, take back, unsay, withdrawRelated Words contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative; abandon, bolt, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender; controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute; back down, back off, backtrack; disallow, recall, revokeNear Antonyms acknowledge, admit, affirm, assert, avow, claim, contend, declare, maintain, proclaim, profess, state, vouch, vow; back, confirm, defend, endorse (also indorse), espouse, maintain, support, uphold; accept, adopt, embraceAntonyms adhere (to)