STRIKING DOWN Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

striking down

verb

present participle of strike down

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 The case could be understood, then, as a straightforward matter of striking down state laws that violated a national one. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 O’Connor ruled that historical firearm tradition supports striking down the rule, as mandated by recent Supreme Court precedent that asks courts to consider American history when determining the constitutionality of gun laws. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2026 Lawyers for the families argue that the 5th Circuit – the most conservative appeals court in the country – flouted the Supreme Court’s 1980 decision striking down a Kentucky law that’s nearly identical to Texas’ requirement. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026 The high court dealt Trump both of the losses during the term that ended in June, striking down his executive order to end birthright citizenship and blocking his attempt to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. — Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2026 The 2024 ruling striking down the law as unconstitutional had been on hold pending appeal, so Wednesday’s reversal does not change the status quo. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 The 2024 ruling striking down the law as unconstitutional had been on hold pending appeal, so Wednesday's reversal does not change the status quo. — CBS News, 29 July 2026 The court dealt Trump a major defeat in February by striking down his sweeping worldwide tariffs. — Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026 Either way, in striking down the Louisiana voting map as a racial gerrymander, this outcome could influence how other states defend or challenge maps, too. — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for striking down

Verb

This July, the EU enacted one of their demands, abolishing the customs duty exemption below €150 and introducing a temporary €3 duty per item.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026
Others, like abolishing the Senate and Supreme Court, are more controversial and used by Republicans to hammer DSA candidates as out of step with the American mainstream.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of abolishing

Verb

The Council earlier this month approved an ordinance repealing a July measure that directed the city manager to assess living conditions at the apartments and make emergency repairs.

— Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026
That includes prohibiting the construction of AI data centers in rural Texas neighborhoods, reducing the impacts of data centers on local communities, and repealing sales tax exemptions and other incentives.

— Jack Fink, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of repealing

Verb

On Sunday, a severe thunderstorm swept through the Kansas City area, leaving thousands of residents without power, ripping the roof off of one building, and canceling a portion of the annual SantaCaliGon Days festival in Independence.

— Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2026
The Flagship Suites come with amenity kits, bedding pajamas, noise-canceling headphones, a wireless charging pad and privacy doors.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of canceling

Verb

These included rolling back childhood vaccine requirements, threatening to demolish the Kennedy Center, and attacking mail-in voting.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2026
By rolling back, or reducing, its levy rate by 65 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, the district effectively reduced homeowners’ taxes but passed up $22 million in extra revenue that year.

— Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of rolling back

Verb

Broadly, the rule of thumb is to drink it during periods of intense competition (to allow for muscle recovery) while avoiding it during periods of training (to promote muscle development).

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The truce applies only to the two capital cities, and overnight attacks into Sunday saw Russia continue its bombardment of Ukraine while avoiding Kyiv city.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of avoiding

Verb

The majority, once again overturning the conclusions of the lower courts, said that a challenge by some two dozen states was premature and that the states lacked standing because they weren’t harmed by the order.

— Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
But a few months later, with McCurdy’s help, the organization had its first success overturning a state ban.

— Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 1 Sep. 2026