1
as in canceling
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
the company called the furniture store to repeal the order for six new desks
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in abolishing
to put an end to by formal action
in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in renouncing
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
if I find that you have been lying about this, I'll instantly repeal every promise I made to you
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Recent Examples of repealing
The Social Security Administration’s actuaries have found repealing the retirement earnings test will ultimately reduce trust fund costs, Adcock said.
—
Lorie Konish, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026
That showed again how poorly the Legislature served the voters by repealing Florida’s runoff primary 21 years ago.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
While Washington’s policies drive prices up, our state has lowered costs where the state has jurisdiction — by repealing the grocery tax and capping child care expenses.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
The four measures passed by nearly 2-to-1 ratios, with nearly 14,000 votes in favor of repealing each ordinance and approximately 7,500 votes to keep them.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
In a statement, the Stop Aurora Pit Bull Ban Team, a group that advocated for repealing the city's breed-specific ban, urged caution in drawing conclusions about the incident.
—Tori Mason, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
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
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
The league instead focused on repealing the fees that were set last June.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Lorie Konish, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026
That showed again how poorly the Legislature served the voters by repealing Florida’s runoff primary 21 years ago.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
While Washington’s policies drive prices up, our state has lowered costs where the state has jurisdiction — by repealing the grocery tax and capping child care expenses.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
The four measures passed by nearly 2-to-1 ratios, with nearly 14,000 votes in favor of repealing each ordinance and approximately 7,500 votes to keep them.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026
In a statement, the Stop Aurora Pit Bull Ban Team, a group that advocated for repealing the city's breed-specific ban, urged caution in drawing conclusions about the incident.
—Tori Mason, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
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
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
The league instead focused on repealing the fees that were set last June.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repealing
Verb
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Three more school districts are canceling classes Friday due to a high number of teachers who plan to participate in a march for higher school funding in Raleigh.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2026
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Last July, Colbert announced that CBS was canceling his show as of May 2026.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jonathan Ruhe, fellow for American strategy at JINSA, echoed Stricker on the importance of abolishing the Iranian enrichment program.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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Abdul El-Sayed is gaining momentum in a divisive three-way Democratic primary with an uncompromising argument for clarity on progressive priorities — Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, and ending US military aid to Israel.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Returning to the guitars that characterized the band’s earliest work without renouncing their latter-day synths, MacFarlane gives Graham’s ruminations an urgent tenderness.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kiffin was excoriated by fans and media for abandoning his team, but neither Chambliss nor his family begrudge the coach for leaving.—
Bomani Jones,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
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Musk is accusing ChatGPT’s parent company, OpenAI, and its leaders — CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman — of misleading him and abandoning the company’s original nonprofit mission.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Garcia Torres’ appellate attorney who secured the ruling overturning the conviction also did not respond to messages seeking comment.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
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Election law experts contend that the scenario of Republicans successfully overturning election results is unlikely, with legal remedies available to prevent stalling and ensure certification of results by January 3 when the new Congress convenes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Since 2016, federal officials allege, Meade has been trying to avoid paying the tax obligation through a number of tactics, which include withdrawing large sums of cash and purchasing cashier’s checks from his business accounts.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
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Legitimate companies do not walk you through withdrawing cash, using crypto ATMs or buying gold to solve a problem.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In addition to revoking the facility’s main operating license, the state also revoked the professional certification of the facility’s administrator Elena Cuevas and the home health aide registration of an employee, Takesha Jackson.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
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The United Arab Emirates, which long had deep commercial ties with Iran, is revoking visas of Iranians in the UAE and may freeze Iran’s assets in country.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Self-retracting nozzles are the most hygienic.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
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The ruthlessness of the producers cutting folk off mid-speech or retracting the microphone and upping the music volume was belittling to those on stage.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repealing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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