as in abolishing
to put an end to by formal action
a law that was later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as unconstitutional
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Recent Examples of striking down
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson accused the Republican National Committee on Monday of asking the Supreme Court to legislate from the bench by striking down late-arriving mail ballot laws, rather than having Congress or individual states pass laws ending mail ballot collection on Election Day.
—
Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 23 Mar. 2026
Friday’s ruling by a federal judge striking down Pentagon press limits was cheered by the news organization that sued over the policy, The New York Times, and by a wide range of First Amendment advocates.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
In a 6–3 decision on Friday, the justices ruled that Trump overstepped by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to levy tariffs throughout much of 2025, striking down portions of the duties on steel, aluminum, and some Chinese imports.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
If Democrats are successful in striking down the Homeland Security spending package, some hinted at comprehensive immigration reforms to follow.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
That’s because the Supreme Court, in the 2022 decision striking down New York’s law, said gun regulations have to be consistent with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation to be constitutional.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
But, in recent years, several of the conservative Justices, in dissents, have seemed ready to start striking down some delegations as being too unspecific to be consistent with the separation of powers.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2025
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
Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 23 Mar. 2026
Friday’s ruling by a federal judge striking down Pentagon press limits was cheered by the news organization that sued over the policy, The New York Times, and by a wide range of First Amendment advocates.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 2026
In a 6–3 decision on Friday, the justices ruled that Trump overstepped by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to levy tariffs throughout much of 2025, striking down portions of the duties on steel, aluminum, and some Chinese imports.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
If Democrats are successful in striking down the Homeland Security spending package, some hinted at comprehensive immigration reforms to follow.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
That’s because the Supreme Court, in the 2022 decision striking down New York’s law, said gun regulations have to be consistent with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation to be constitutional.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
But, in recent years, several of the conservative Justices, in dissents, have seemed ready to start striking down some delegations as being too unspecific to be consistent with the separation of powers.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for striking down
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 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
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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
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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Civil rights leaders fear the ruling could allow states to eliminate majority-Black and Latino districts, rolling back six decades of voting rights progress.—
Kim Chandler,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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Environmental and public health advocacy groups have worked for weeks to oppose rolling back the finding, which cites carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases as threat to public health.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Officials recommend planning transportation if drinking, avoiding open containers in vehicles and being aware of behavior in public spaces, according to TxDOT and Texas DPS.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Regular theme-parkgoers may find themselves in ruts, making favorites their top priority while avoiding others out of habit.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 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
Cite this Entry
“Striking down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/striking%20down. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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