COUNTERMAND Synonyms: 164 Similar and Opposite Words

countermand 1 of 2

verb

Definition of countermand

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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countermand

2 of 2

noun

as in veto

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as in mandate

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of countermand

Verb

Advertisement But the Secretary General cannot countermand the nations. — Mark Webber, Time, 24 July 2026 Another said Trump is countermanding the Pentagon, which had made a decision without presidential approval. — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025 Trump’s Achilles’ heel, where his policies may yet be countermanded by the judicial branch, are his arbitrary tariffs, having their root in a delegation as broad as that for FDR’s National Recovery Administration. — George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 2 July 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 See All Example Sentences for countermand

Recent Examples of Synonyms for countermand

Verb

While the ban lasted only three weeks, both the number of weekly visits to the needle exchange and the number of naloxone kits distributed were lower than expected for at least the 20 weeks after the ban was overturned.

— Paul Christine, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
His acquittal was overturned and the case was merged with that relating to the coup attempt.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of overturn

Noun

At such a meeting, unions lack voting power, and major shareholders like the Porsche/Piech families and Qatar could secure the 75% majority needed for structural changes, bypassing traditional vetoes.

— Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Pritzker has called for the legislature to present a path forward during its fall veto session.

— David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of veto

Noun

Softer labor figures would justify a balanced approach at the Warsh Fed, leading the committee to take the employment side of the institution's dual mandate into consideration, effectively loosening financial conditions.

— Justina Lee,Fred Imbert, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
University of Pittsburgh researchers studied RTO mandates at big public companies and found no gain in financial performance — just a drop in employee satisfaction.

— Lori Janke, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of mandate

Verb

If the league and union can’t agree on a new contract by some time in March, some regular-season games likely would be canceled.

— Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Another, who said a relative's upcoming interview had been canceled, described feeling confused and upset by what appeared to be an embassy-wide hold.

— María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of cancel

Noun

Another school district in Colorado has voted to put a mill levy override measure on the ballot this November.

— Christa Swanson, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Alabama has since abolished judicial override, the practice that allowed judges to order the state to kill a person even though a jury of one’s peers requested otherwise.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of override

Noun

The Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC have all passed similar rules against signing the players, along with penalties against teams for doing so.

— Seth Emerson, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Fisheries as the sticking point Under EU rules, fishing quotas are based on historical fishing patterns, among other things.

— Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of rule

Verb

In August last year, Washington imposed 25% tariff on imports from India as a penalty for buying Russian oil, only to revoke them in February this year.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Genesis also argued that the county lacked authority to revoke the permits because federal law supersedes local regulations.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of revoke

Noun

The appropriate remedy is congressional overruling of the Marquette case so as to allow the states to regulate loans to their own citizens.

— George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2026
In recent years, the court’s conservative majority overruling of major, longstanding precedents has become a defining feature of Roberts’ tenure.

— Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2025

Definition of overruling

Cite this Entry

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“Countermand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countermand. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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