as in abolishing
to put an end to by formal action
lobbyists for the industry pressured the legislators to roll back the new automotive safety standards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 rolling back
Since January, Trump and governors in many red states have been rolling back diversity initiatives that grew to prominence around 2020 amid social justice protests, but have roots dating back to the Civil Rights era.
—
Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 25 Sep. 2025
Many boycotts were organized in response to companies rolling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
—Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Trump's second administration has prioritized rolling back protections for transgender people, including trying to bar trans women from playing sports, banning transgender troops from the military and limiting the ability to have government IDs that match their identity.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Friday’s high-stakes call was the first conversation between the leaders since June with the future of TikTok and a possible extension of an ongoing trade deal rolling back some tariffs and export controls high on the agenda.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
Populist governments in Europe and the United States are rolling back climate rules and weaponizing green regulation as a cultural wedge.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Everything keeps rolling back around.
—Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing rolling back what's known as the endangerment finding, the basis for rules regulating climate pollution, including from coal and gas-fired power plants, cars and trucks, and methane from the oil and gas industry.
—Julia Simon, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Standing alongside Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, Ladapo said his agency will begin rolling back mandates under its authority, while broader changes will require legislative approval.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 25 Sep. 2025
Many boycotts were organized in response to companies rolling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
—Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Trump's second administration has prioritized rolling back protections for transgender people, including trying to bar trans women from playing sports, banning transgender troops from the military and limiting the ability to have government IDs that match their identity.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Friday’s high-stakes call was the first conversation between the leaders since June with the future of TikTok and a possible extension of an ongoing trade deal rolling back some tariffs and export controls high on the agenda.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
Populist governments in Europe and the United States are rolling back climate rules and weaponizing green regulation as a cultural wedge.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Everything keeps rolling back around.
—Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing rolling back what's known as the endangerment finding, the basis for rules regulating climate pollution, including from coal and gas-fired power plants, cars and trucks, and methane from the oil and gas industry.
—Julia Simon, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
Standing alongside Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, Ladapo said his agency will begin rolling back mandates under its authority, while broader changes will require legislative approval.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rolling back
Verb
-
Both Biss and Abughazaleh support abolishing ICE, and the winner of their primary will be heavily favored to hold a seat whose voters backed Kamala Harris by 37 points last year.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
24 Sep. 2025
-
That could lead to more push back from the public, guilds, unions and other entities that might aggressively fight against the idea of abolishing the station cap.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There is little action that could be forced upon these platforms with today’s Section 230 protections for third-party content, but there is growing Republican support for reforming, or even repealing, the law.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
23 Sep. 2025
-
But in 1917, under the strain of wartime defense spending, lawmakers narrowed it by repealing the deduction for federal taxes.—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While automakers are putting off and/or cancelling vehicles that only run on electrons, given high development costs and a weak market, Subaru is confident in the direction it is headed.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Many subscribers of Disney, ABC’s parent firm, protested the move, with some cancelling their streaming service subscriptions and hundreds marching at Disney’s Burbank office last week.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If a court issues a final ruling striking down the SAVE plan, which is a very real possibility, then borrowers may have to quickly change repayment plans.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The focus ring turns comfortably, with enough resistance to allow for precise focus, avoiding the sloppy action of too-loose focus systems.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
-
The lesson for global leaders is not to adopt its 37 words wholesale, but to adapt its principles—access, accountability, and equality—to local contexts, while avoiding its blind spots.—
Danette Leighton,
Time,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rolling back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rolling%20back. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share