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
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
Democrats had appealed to the Supreme Court that the Tazewell County Circuit Court ruling that Democrats in the legislature acted against proper procedure, striking down the referendum and determining that the current map must stay in place until 2028.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 13 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
Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
Democrats had appealed to the Supreme Court that the Tazewell County Circuit Court ruling that Democrats in the legislature acted against proper procedure, striking down the referendum and determining that the current map must stay in place until 2028.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 13 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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Success will be measured by progress toward abolishing property taxes, restoring public trust, improving infrastructure reliability, reducing corruption, and overall approval from the people of Texas.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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Authoritarian states have learned to insulate themselves from diaspora pressure while simultaneously using emigration as a safety valve, turning potential dissidents into remittance-senders – as Cuba did by abolishing exit visas in 2013.—
Michael Paarlberg,
The Conversation,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The measure appears likely to appear on the ballot because the sponsors, the Lincoln Club Business League, plan to rely on the much lower threshold required under state law for measures repealing taxes and fees.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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At least one Japanese refiner has started canceling exports of diesel, jet fuel and gasoline for March, and the prospect of higher domestic fuel and power prices could derail Takaichi’s plans to tackle inflation.—
Shoko Oda,
Bloomberg,
5 Mar. 2026
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Now that Iranian forces have threatened to attack any ship entering the Strait, and followed through in several cases, many insurers are cancelling pre-existing war risk policies and looking to renegotiate at higher prices.—
Natasha Bracken,
semafor.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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City commissioners had also considered rolling back closing times but decided to table that discussion, for now.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After resolving debt and avoiding Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the always press-averse Ellison departed Hollywood right before the COVID-19 pandemic and largely stayed away for a number of years.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
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Miller said avoiding commercial terminals is purposefully built into RetrievAir’s business model.—
Rick Mauch,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The white truck struck the motorcycle and continued into an irrigation canal, overturning.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 2026
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But David Oppenheimer, a UC Berkeley law professor and director of the Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law, said overturning affirmative action would create more inequality and less opportunity in the workplace.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Striking down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/striking%20down. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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