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in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again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 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
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
The controversy might make for good ratings and fundraising appeals, but Congress could address the underlying issue simply by repealing the outdated regulation — or eliminating the Federal Communications Commission altogether.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2026
That means repealing private school voucher programs, protecting the separation of church and state, and keeping public funds in public institutions.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The proposals, released this week and which would go into effect in 2027, prioritize making ACA premiums as low as possible — by expanding bare-bones coverage, allowing insurers to skip creating networks of hospitals and doctors, and repealing standardized plan options.
—Bob Herman, STAT, 11 Feb. 2026
The text of the rule repealing the finding has not yet been released, so many details are still unknown.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
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
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
The controversy might make for good ratings and fundraising appeals, but Congress could address the underlying issue simply by repealing the outdated regulation — or eliminating the Federal Communications Commission altogether.
—Editorial Board, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2026
That means repealing private school voucher programs, protecting the separation of church and state, and keeping public funds in public institutions.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The proposals, released this week and which would go into effect in 2027, prioritize making ACA premiums as low as possible — by expanding bare-bones coverage, allowing insurers to skip creating networks of hospitals and doctors, and repealing standardized plan options.
—Bob Herman, STAT, 11 Feb. 2026
The text of the rule repealing the finding has not yet been released, so many details are still unknown.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for repealing
Verb
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Indigo is one of a handful of airlines that are rerouting and canceling flights to avoid Pakistan’s airspace.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2026
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Soundcore Earbuds Deal The Soundcore P31i earbuds pack flagship technology into a pocket-sized design, featuring adaptive noise cancelling that can silence up to 52dB of external roar.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The clock ran out on a bill aimed at moving Georgia to a new time zone, ending supporters’ hopes of abolishing the chore of changing the clocks twice per year.—
Caleb Groves,
AJC.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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The National Women’s Soccer League announced a new CBA in the summer of 2024 that included giving players agency on where they are traded and abolishing expansion and collegiate drafts.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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The association filed several lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the fee, including one that remains pending that argues there should be no cost for renouncing one’s citizenship.—
Matthew Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Californians are abandoning the Golden State, chiefly because of high housing costs and finding better luck at becoming homeowners elsewhere, a new study found.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Safari shut down in 1978 after passengers kept abandoning their Jeeps mid-trip.—
Abbey Briscoe,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That is why the Supreme Court’s recent decision overturning the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs brought an immediate sense of relief.—
Serena Sato,
Baltimore Sun,
31 Mar. 2026
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It's become a cornerstone of public school policy nationwide, but is being called into question again, and, with a stronger conservative majority on the Court than in 1982, overturning the ruling could radically reshape public education.—
Jenni Fink,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Daines later said withdrawing earlier could have enticed a prominent Democrat like Tester to enter the race.—
Kirk Siegler,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
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Chock and Bates decided not to pursue a fourth straight ice dance world championship, joining Olympic teammate Alysa Liu in withdrawing from the worlds, a common decision for skaters who compete at the Winter Games.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The British government responded in February by revoking the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
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The administration has also put a restriction on the number of foreign nationals who can enter the country by revoking or denying tourist visas, as well as increasing immigration fees.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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The actress has no interest in retracting her comments.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Repealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repealing. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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