1
as in cancels
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 abolishes
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in 1933, Congress passed the 21st Amendment which repealed the Prohibition Amendment of 1919, thus making the sale, distribution, and use of alcohol legal once again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 renounces
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 cancellations
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 abolitions
the doing away with something by formal action
the repeal of Prohibition during Franklin D. Roosevelt's first term
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of repeals
Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
The law also repeals work exemptions for homeless people, veterans, and young adults exiting foster care, and limits states’ ability to waive the time limits on assistance for recipients in areas with few jobs.
—Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025
The House spending bill would use that power as a cudgel, halting congressional approval of FASB’s budget (see page 108) until the accounting agency repeals its new disclosure rules.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Idaho Statesman, 17 Dec. 2025
These partial repeals were less effective, producing smaller and less persistent increases in vaccination rates than those from total repeal.
—Anthony Bald, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
The repeals still need to make it into the final version of the defense policy legislation hashed out both chambers, but the effort clearly has momentum.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025
The repeals do not conclude the litigation.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Property tax repeals or reforms are being considered in multiple states across the country, following the consistent rise of property taxes over the past five years.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
The deal, the evictions, the rent-regulation repeals.
—Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
The bill also repeals sanctions on Syria under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019.
—Noun
Boise’s ordinance repeals that section, making those streets subject to a default speed limit of 20 miles per hour.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for repeals
Verb
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Trump cancels 'second wave of attacks' against Venezuela 2.—
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After her family cancels holiday plans at the last minute, Nell decides to spend the week of Christmas having fun on her own!—
Verb
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Instead, this measure abolishes them.—
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The Iranian parliament has just approved a law that abolishes prison sentences for those who had to leave Iran illegally.—
Verb
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She’s also supported revising Japan’s pacifist constitution, particularly Article 9, which renounces war and bans military forces.—
Noun
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Bhupinder Kaur — director of operations at United Sikhs, a national human and civil rights organization — has told The Times that the cancellations disproportionately affect Sikh, Punjabi, Latino and other immigrant drivers who are essential to California’s freight economy.—
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More cancellations are expected.—
Verb
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Edward cruelly abandons his wife to pursue a wealthy and high-status noblewoman (Bella Heathcote).—
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Using three boundaries to solve the problem The new study abandons the idea of a purely passive shell.—
Verb
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Similarly, the video Som da Maloka, 2024, by Raphael Escobar overturns negative stereotypes about the shelterless men of color living in Cracolândia, a highly impoverished and heavily policed area of downtown São Paulo ravaged by crack cocaine and other drugs.—
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Bell toe-taps to get into the end zone on the third-down pass, and replay overturns the initial incomplete call.—
Verb
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Musk withdraws the California suit in June, then files a federal suit in August.—
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If a parent later withdraws permission, the app developer must be notified to disable access.—
Verb
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The budget law, which funds several of the president's priorities, including tax cuts to wealthy Americans and border security, revokes refugees' access to Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities, starting in October 2026.—
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Disbarment, which revokes a lawyer's license to practice law, is the most severe professional sanction for attorneys.—
Cite this Entry
“Repeals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/repeals. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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