1
as in canceling
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
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2
as in abolishing
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in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in renouncing
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
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Recent Examples of repealing
In his opening moves as mayor, Mamdani signed executive orders dealing with housing and one repealing all of former Mayor Eric Adams’s executive orders signed after his indictment on corruption charges in September 2024.
—
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026
Third, negotiators must start by repealing the Gainful Employment Rule, especially since the OBBBA will replace it with the earnings premium.
—Bob Carey, Boston Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
Idaho Democrats condemned Friday’s vote, pushing back on the idea that repealing Medicaid Expansion would save the state money.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Dec. 2025
New Hampshire joined the list this year, repealing its interest and dividends tax.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
That includes repealing the ordinance.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Nov. 2025
House Republicans pledged to pass a resolution repealing that provision, but there's no guarantee of that or that the Senate will go along.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 15 Nov. 2025
But this summer, via special election, voters overwhelmingly supported repealing the review board and limited the city’s ability to outsource library services.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
Proponents of repealing the Gulf and Iraq War authorizations for the use of military force from 1991 and 2002, respectively, may finally have a victory on their hands.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026
Third, negotiators must start by repealing the Gainful Employment Rule, especially since the OBBBA will replace it with the earnings premium.
—Bob Carey, Boston Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
Idaho Democrats condemned Friday’s vote, pushing back on the idea that repealing Medicaid Expansion would save the state money.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Dec. 2025
New Hampshire joined the list this year, repealing its interest and dividends tax.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
That includes repealing the ordinance.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Nov. 2025
House Republicans pledged to pass a resolution repealing that provision, but there's no guarantee of that or that the Senate will go along.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 15 Nov. 2025
But this summer, via special election, voters overwhelmingly supported repealing the review board and limited the city’s ability to outsource library services.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
Proponents of repealing the Gulf and Iraq War authorizations for the use of military force from 1991 and 2002, respectively, may finally have a victory on their hands.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repealing
Verb
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From a portable power bank to keep your phone charged to noise-canceling headphones that will drown out stressful sounds, these travel accessories will help nervous fliers and frequent travelers alike have easier journeys.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
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But in Japan, there’s no legal recourse and canceling a location shoot with short notice is an accepted part of the culture.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Trump has urged Republicans to have a simple majority to approve legislation, whether through reconciliation or by abolishing the Senate filibuster.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
27 Dec. 2025
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In the ancient Mauryan Empire in India, Ashoka may also have temporarily reduced slavery by abolishing slave trading, but this change too was not permanent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Margaret’s father succeeded him as King George VI, and her mother Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, never forgave the duke for renouncing his duty to his country.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
29 Dec. 2025
-
Ukraine withdrawing from all of the Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and Kyiv officially renouncing its aim to join NATO.—
Andrea Shalal,
USA Today,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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However, that action then sparked outrage among many residents who felt the city was abandoning homeless residents, while also trying to push them to other cities.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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At the same time, demand for nonalcoholic alternatives has surged — even as most consumers continue to drink alcohol in moderation rather than abandoning it altogether.—
Jason Mastrodonato,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Oral arguments in November went badly for the administration, and prediction markets currently put 70% odds on the Supreme Court overturning the tariffs.—
Shelly Banjo,
semafor.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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Donald filed for an appeal in February 1997, and a court heard his pleas in 2015 before overturning his convictions.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But again, no school can prevent a player from withdrawing and enrolling elsewhere.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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With his previous attorney withdrawing from the case, arraignment was postponed Wednesday for Rob Reiner’s youngest son, who is charged with murdering the famed filmmaker and his photographer wife Michele in their Brentwood home.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Legislative Audit Bureau will examine the DPI’s oversight of educator misconduct cases, including the quality of its investigations, the steps for revoking or suspending licenses and whether the agency’s policies follow state law.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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In its petition to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the DOJ accused the district court of exceeding its powers and asked the appeals court to immediately pause the order and consider revoking it.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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School public safety had initially reported that a suspect had been taken into custody before retracting that statement.—
Kierra Frazier,
CBS News,
13 Dec. 2025
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This series of exemptions is part of EPA’s suite of PFAS de-regulation that includes approving PFAS-laden pesticides and retracting some of its maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) that were the result of years of careful research and policymaking.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Repealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repealing. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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