Synonyms of repeal

repeal 1 of 2

verb

ri-ˈpēl 

1

as in to cancel

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 & Similar Words

• cancel
• abandon
• revoke
• scrap
• abort
• rescind
• scrub
• recall
• withdraw
• call off
• suspend
• drop
• nullify
• terminate
• reverse
• invalidate
• call
• abrogate
• halt
• annul
• end
• cry off
• retract
• void
• interrupt
• discontinue
• stop
• take back
• write off
• recant
• roll back
• relinquish
• hold back
• countermand
• break off
• surrender
• give up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• keep
• engage
• begin
• start
• pledge
• initiate
• promise
• undertake
• take up
• commence
• take on

2

as in to abolish

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in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again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 & Similar Words

• abolish
• cancel
• overturn
• avoid
• void
• invalidate
• revoke
• vacate
• rescind
• nullify
• abrogate
• withdraw
• annul
• suspend
• dissolve
• quash
• dismiss
• veto
• negate
• set aside
• roll back
• strike down
• reverse
• reject
• abate
• remove
• eliminate
• null
• retract
• disannul
• ban
• do away with
• forbid
• override
• overrule
• prohibit
• recall
• outlaw
• erase
• abort
• enjoin
• eradicate
• countermand
• call off
• disallow
• call
• drop
• annihilate
• liquidate
• throw out
• write off
• break down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enact
• legislate
• establish
• found
• lay down
• institute
• legitimate
• pass
• validate
• approve
• authorize
• permit
• ratify
• legalize
• allow
• endorse
• prescribe
• warrant
• legitimize
• order
• formalize
• clear
• command
• sanction
• mandate
• indorse
• decree

3

as in to withdraw

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 & Similar Words

• withdraw
• retract
• renounce
• deny
• contradict
• refute
• abandon
• relinquish
• repudiate
• take back
• recant
• forswear
• renege
• abjure
• foreswear
• unsay
• disavow
• abnegate
• revoke
• spurn
• recall
• forsake
• negate
• disown
• disclaim
• disprove
• gainsay
• controvert
• disagree (with)
• surrender
• negative
• rebut
• dispute
• back down
• disallow
• backtrack
• bolt
• give up
• back off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• maintain
• adhere (to)
• claim
• state
• declare
• acknowledge
• proclaim
• support
• assert
• affirm
• contend
• admit
• defend
• uphold
• profess
• endorse
• adopt
• confirm
• accept
• vow
• back
• embrace
• avow
• vouch
• indorse
• espouse

repeal

2 of 2

noun

1

as in cancelation

the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to

the long overdue repeal of laws prohibiting interracial marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cancelation
• cancellation
• abandonment
• abolition
• revocation
• abortion
• rescission
• calling
• recision
• ending
• recall
• dropping
• termination
• nullification
• abolishment
• annulment
• calling off
• invalidation
• neutralization
• reversal
• surrender
• halting
• stopping
• rollback
• relinquishment
• voidance
• giving up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuation
• beginning
• initiation
• engagement
• commencement
• undertaking

2

as in abolition

the doing away with something by formal action

the repeal of Prohibition during Franklin D. Roosevelt's first term

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abolition
• cancelation
• abolishment
• dissolution
• abrogation
• nullification
• cancellation
• dismissal
• annulment
• invalidation
• defeasance
• voiding
• avoidance
• elimination
• negation
• veto
• abatement
• prohibition
• rescindment
• quashing
• abortion
• removal
• withdrawal
• reversal
• revocation
• suspension
• rejection
• override
• banning
• overruling
• retraction
• overturn
• outlawing
• recall
• liquidation
• calling off
• erasure
• eradication
• disallowance
• forbiddance
• enjoining
• countermand

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• legislation
• enactment
• establishment
• institution
• founding
• legalization
• ratification
• validation
• approval
• passing
• formalization
• permission
• legitimation
• authorization
• endorsement
• indorsement
• clearance
• prescription
• legitimization
• commandment
• ordering
• sanctioning
• mandating
• decreeing

Examples of repeal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Trump could attempt to again repeal the Roadless Rule in Southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest to open up logging potential, undoing Biden’s reversal. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 2 Oct. 2024

Republicans, at Trump's behest, tried to repeal Obamacare in 2017, the first year of his presidency, but the late Sen. John McCain cast the deciding vote that killed the effort. —Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 1 Oct. 2024

The proposal to repeal the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax deduction would cut 2025 taxes by an average of more than $140,000 for the highest-income 0.1% of families but provide little or no help to low- and middle-income households, according to a new Tax Policy Center analysis. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024

The Act would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduce Social Security benefits for certain retirees who also receive pension income. —Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024