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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again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
The president has gone so far as repealing a longtime scientific finding that climate change endangers public health and the environment.
—
Matthew Daly, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Mar. 2026
Johnson, of the American Cancer Society, pushed back on arguments that repealing the program would save the state money.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
The league instead focused on repealing the fees that were set last June.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Other recommendations included repealing any crime-free nuisance ordinances around housing, establishing an Office of Immigrant and Refugee Rights and creating a program that diverts young people away from the justice system.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
The controversy might make for good ratings and fundraising appeals, but Congress could address the underlying issue simply by repealing the outdated regulation — or eliminating the Federal Communications Commission altogether.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2026
That means repealing private school voucher programs, protecting the separation of church and state, and keeping public funds in public institutions.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The proposals, released this week and which would go into effect in 2027, prioritize making ACA premiums as low as possible — by expanding bare-bones coverage, allowing insurers to skip creating networks of hospitals and doctors, and repealing standardized plan options.
—Bob Herman, STAT, 11 Feb. 2026
The text of the rule repealing the finding has not yet been released, so many details are still unknown.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
Matthew Daly, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Mar. 2026
Johnson, of the American Cancer Society, pushed back on arguments that repealing the program would save the state money.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
The league instead focused on repealing the fees that were set last June.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Other recommendations included repealing any crime-free nuisance ordinances around housing, establishing an Office of Immigrant and Refugee Rights and creating a program that diverts young people away from the justice system.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
The controversy might make for good ratings and fundraising appeals, but Congress could address the underlying issue simply by repealing the outdated regulation — or eliminating the Federal Communications Commission altogether.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2026
That means repealing private school voucher programs, protecting the separation of church and state, and keeping public funds in public institutions.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The proposals, released this week and which would go into effect in 2027, prioritize making ACA premiums as low as possible — by expanding bare-bones coverage, allowing insurers to skip creating networks of hospitals and doctors, and repealing standardized plan options.
—Bob Herman, STAT, 11 Feb. 2026
The text of the rule repealing the finding has not yet been released, so many details are still unknown.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repealing
Verb
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Those groups all called for pausing or cancelling the project.—
Desiree Mathurin
March 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
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Trump’s administration recently pressured other nations into canceling a long-standing plan to charge ship owners a modest fee to pay for environmental damage.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The National Women’s Soccer League announced a new CBA in the summer of 2024 that included giving players agency on where they are traded and abolishing expansion and collegiate drafts.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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Stratton cast herself as the most progressive choice, supporting policies such as a $25 minimum wage and abolishing ICE, and managed to overcome a significant financial disadvantage.—
Marissa Martinez,
NBC news,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The association filed several lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the fee, including one that remains pending that argues there should be no cost for renouncing one’s citizenship.—
Matthew Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
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The association filed several lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the fee, including one that remains pending that argues there should be no cost at all for renouncing one’s citizenship.—
Matthew Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For now, Iran has shown no signs of abandoning its proxy in Lebanon amid the larger war.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
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Since then, the larger culture has lurched rightward, with big corporations abandoning progressive signaling in favor of…other priorities.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That is why the Supreme Court’s recent decision overturning the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs brought an immediate sense of relief.—
Serena Sato,
Baltimore Sun,
31 Mar. 2026
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It's become a cornerstone of public school policy nationwide, but is being called into question again, and, with a stronger conservative majority on the Court than in 1982, overturning the ruling could radically reshape public education.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Daines later said withdrawing earlier could have enticed a prominent Democrat like Tester to enter the race.—
Kirk Siegler,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
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Chock and Bates decided not to pursue a fourth straight ice dance world championship, joining Olympic teammate Alysa Liu in withdrawing from the worlds, a common decision for skaters who compete at the Winter Games.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The administration has also put a restriction on the number of foreign nationals who can enter the country by revoking or denying tourist visas, as well as increasing immigration fees.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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Another investigation was initiated the following year by the commission after Givens was accused of presiding over two criminal cases after she’d been recused, jailing a man in one case and revoking bond from another.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The ruthlessness of the producers cutting folk off mid-speech or retracting the microphone and upping the music volume was belittling to those on stage.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
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The actress has no interest in retracting her comments.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repealing. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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