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
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Recent Examples of rolling back
This conviction has been necessary in high-stakes moments, as Citi was criticized by some for rolling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
—
Claire Zillman, Fortune, 27 May 2026
The representatives know moving legislation while the presidential administration is rolling back environmental regulations is an uphill climb.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Companies are replacing people with AI, and companies are rolling back AI that cannot yet replace people.
—Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
On the right, Bianco and Hilton argue for dramatic reversals of signature Democratic policies — from ending sanctuary protections to rolling back climate regulations — contending that bold, partisan realignment in Sacramento is necessary to address crime, energy prices, and housing.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency rescinded several longstanding environmental regulations, including gutting the 2009 endangerment finding and rolling back air quality standards for coal-burning power plants, which advocates say will cause irreparable harm.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
The statement comes as much of the corporate world is rolling back climate commitments, in the face of political headwinds and rising energy prices.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Last summer's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) roadshow in Europe sought to showcase the budding coalition seeking coordination in rolling back the European Union project for which the president has shown such disdain.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
This supermajority will allow Magyar to advance his agenda of redemocratizing Hungary and rolling back Orbán's changes to Hungary's constitution.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
Claire Zillman, Fortune, 27 May 2026
The representatives know moving legislation while the presidential administration is rolling back environmental regulations is an uphill climb.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 26 May 2026
Companies are replacing people with AI, and companies are rolling back AI that cannot yet replace people.
—Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
On the right, Bianco and Hilton argue for dramatic reversals of signature Democratic policies — from ending sanctuary protections to rolling back climate regulations — contending that bold, partisan realignment in Sacramento is necessary to address crime, energy prices, and housing.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency rescinded several longstanding environmental regulations, including gutting the 2009 endangerment finding and rolling back air quality standards for coal-burning power plants, which advocates say will cause irreparable harm.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
The statement comes as much of the corporate world is rolling back climate commitments, in the face of political headwinds and rising energy prices.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Last summer's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) roadshow in Europe sought to showcase the budding coalition seeking coordination in rolling back the European Union project for which the president has shown such disdain.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2026
This supermajority will allow Magyar to advance his agenda of redemocratizing Hungary and rolling back Orbán's changes to Hungary's constitution.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rolling back
Verb
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The most prominent of these activists is Joyce McMillan, who, after her own children were taken and returned, founded JMACforFamilies, an organization with the goal of abolishing the child-protective system altogether.—
Larissa MacFarquhar,
New Yorker,
28 May 2026
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While politicians can write all sorts of legislation meant to keep kids off smartphones and away from apps, games, and content not appropriate for them, merely writing a law is not the same as abolishing a market.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Horn said in a news release on Monday that plans to create a new ban showed that repealing the original version was unnecessary.—
Dylan Lysen
June 2,
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2026
-
Of course, none of this involves repealing the laws of physics.—
David Szondy
May 31,
New Atlas,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The reason the Home Office cited for cancelling their electronic travel authorizations, or ETAs?—
Jada Yuan,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
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Jamaica, Guyana, Guatemala and even Venezuela – which has seen by far the largest deployment of Cuban doctors in the past 20 years – have also severed or are in the process of cancelling their contracts with the Cuban medical missions.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The court dealt Trump a major defeat in February by striking down his sweeping worldwide tariffs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
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In a one-sentence order, the justices left in place a Virginia Supreme Court ruling striking down a measure allowing lawmakers to create a map more favorable to Democrats in the midterm elections.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The partnership resulted in the implementation of energy efficiency measures across the HVAC and lighting systems that are projected to reduce carbon emissions by an amount equivalent to avoiding the import of approximately 7,200 barrels of oil.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
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While the Hartford Board of Education must decide in June whether to seek oversight, Arulampalam said the funding is critical to avoiding more layoffs.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rolling back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rolling%20back. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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