as in to overturn
formal
to cancel (an order) especially by giving a new order
Orders to blow up the bridge were countermanded.
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in veto
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in mandate
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of countermand
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
What remains will be countermanded at the next change in power, the countermander then adding his or her new round of decrees, and on and on.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 30 May 2025
Their instructions in effect countermanded the order of Mr. Musk across much of the government, challenging the broad authority President Trump has given the world’s richest man to make drastic changes to the federal bureaucracy.
—Chris Cameron, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
The concept of a deep state is valuable in its original context, the study of developing countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey, where shadowy elites in the military and government ministries have been known to countermand or simply defy democratic directives.
—Jon D. Michaels, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2017
See All Example Sentences for countermand
Noun
We also were concerned that if the anti-congestion pricing Donald Trump was returned to the White House, the tolls that began later on would be at a greater risk of being countermanded by Washington.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
What remains will be countermanded at the next change in power, the countermander then adding his or her new round of decrees, and on and on.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 30 May 2025
Their instructions in effect countermanded the order of Mr. Musk across much of the government, challenging the broad authority President Trump has given the world’s richest man to make drastic changes to the federal bureaucracy.
—Chris Cameron, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
The concept of a deep state is valuable in its original context, the study of developing countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey, where shadowy elites in the military and government ministries have been known to countermand or simply defy democratic directives.
—Jon D. Michaels, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2017
See All Example Sentences for countermand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for countermand
Verb
-
The outcomes for detainees who have been housed at the facility have taken on new significance after an appeals court overturned that earlier ruling, allowing the facility to resume operations.—
Ben Wieder,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
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Now 64, Hernandez had been serving his sentence until the recent appeals court decision overturning his conviction in July.—
Adeola Adeosun
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Product managers see privacy shifts as prioritization input, not a late-stage veto.—
Jagbir Kaur,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Overriding a gubernatorial veto, Vermont lawmakers last year also passed a law enabling a pilot overdose prevention center in Burlington, according to the Associated Press.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At times like the present, when inflation is rising and the labor market is slowing, the dual mandates are sitting on a see-saw.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
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Seth Stern of the Free Press Foundation said that the mandate goes against decades of legal precedent of journalists lawfully obtaining and publishing government secrets.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Mahtomedi High School officials canceled Friday night’s football game against Bloomington Kennedy, saying the Washington County Sheriff’s Office had advised them to do so due to ongoing law enforcement activity in the area.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
20 Sep. 2025
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On social media, people have posted photos of them canceling their subscriptions to streaming services Disney Plus and Hulu in support of Kimmel.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Adoption will depend on notifications, override options, and transparency into agent decisions.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Fewer support the move needed to do so, an override of the state’s independent redistricting commission — suggesting those pushing the effort would need to do some convincing between now and November.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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By using a digital signal system, Viljoen said there's less personal information that's shared with any website subject to age verification rules.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
20 Sep. 2025
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John explains the rules to the first-timers, and the bracket begins — four matches at once.—
Matt Negrin,
Rolling Stone,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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During an interview with Fox News on Monday, Rubio said that the State Department will not grant visas to those celebrating Kirk’s death, and will revoke visas from those doing so.—
Max Rego,
The Hill,
16 Sep. 2025
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States has begun revoking the visas of individuals found celebrating the killing of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk.—
Alia Shoaib
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Raise the stakes for farmers There have been calls not just to hold farmers more accountable for H-2A violations, but also to reward the ones who comply with labor laws.—
Max Blau,
ProPublica,
16 Sep. 2025
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As lieutenant governor, Duncan backed policies expanding healthcare in rural communities and helped pass the state’s first hate crimes law.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Countermand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countermand. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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