1
as in to cancel
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
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2
as in to abolish
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in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again
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3
as in to withdraw
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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1
as in cancelation
the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to
the long overdue repeal of laws prohibiting interracial marriage
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2
as in abolition
the doing away with something by formal action
the repeal of Prohibition during Franklin D. Roosevelt's first term
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of repeal
Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
In Arizona, state lawmakers are considering a proposal to repeal a similar rule that was already delayed due to bird flu, said Patrick Bray, executive vice president of the Arizona Farm and Ranch Group, which represents farmers.
—Tom Polansek, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025
William Hill gave odds of 5/2 on Trump repealing the 22nd Amendment and running for a third term before 2029.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
With state universities and colleges continuing to see turnover of presidents, a House panel Wednesday unanimously approved a bill that would repeal a law shielding information about presidential candidates from public disclosure.
—Jim Saunders, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repeal
Verb
Editors’ Picks In about two dozen states, Tesla has successfully pushed to have franchise laws repealed or modified.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for repeal
Verb
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The Television Critics Association has canceled its summer press tour, the org announced to members on Wednesday.—
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January/February’s installment was also scrapped for financial reasons (though the Los Angeles wildfires would have canceled the tour anyway).—
Verb
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Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R.) has signed legislation to abolish the state’s income tax.—
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Democrats who previously demanded that the Senate abolish the filibuster are now furious that the party didn’t use it.—
Verb
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Waltz is now Trump's national security advisor, but Gaetz withdrew from consideration for attorney general.—
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The race attracted serious fundraising from Democrats, and was in the spotlight after President Trump withdrew Rep. Elise Stefanik's name from consideration for U.N. ambassador to avoid risking further depleting his party's already narrow majority.—
Noun
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Lewis was working within the Neoclassical mode, recycling the stylings of ancient Greece for a new era concerned with enforcing the abolition of slavery.—
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But people don't know that Quakers were really instrumental in abolition.—
Verb
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Iran later abandoned provisions of the JCPOA and forged ahead with its nuclear program.—
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The administration’s decision to abandon plans to move D.C.’s elite fighter jet squadron to Maryland comes months after the state’s congressional delegation and Gov. Wes Moore (D) worked to secure the planes to prevent the state from losing its flying mission.—
Verb
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Missouri banned almost all abortions in 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe.—
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Iran’s Supreme Court later overturned Yasin’s death sentence on appeal, and his sentence was eventually set at five years.—
Verb
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Both publications eventually retracted the article.—
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With the campaign retracted, the focus turned to the name.—
Noun
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Start with the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds, which nail noise cancellation and sync with your iPhone, for 20% off!—
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Be flexible with plans: Be patient and accept that last-minute cancellations may happen due to unpredictable flare-ups.—
Cite this Entry
“Repeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repeal. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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