Synonyms for abrogate
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Rescind — to annul (as a law, decree, ordinance, etc.) by an authoritative act; to abolish by the authority of the…
rescind, nullify, invalidate, abolish, annul, revoke, overrule, repeal, supersede, quash, void, waive, contradict, undo, overturn, override, withdraw, veto, suspend, vacate, reverse, retract
2. Cancel — to put an end to; to do away with
cancel, annihilate, obliterate, vitiate, do away with informal, subvert, eliminate, dissolve, terminate, obviate, abjure formal, wipe out, end, recant, extinguish, neutralize, neutralise UK, expunge
Definitions
- v. 1
To annul (as a law, decree, ordinance, etc.) by an authoritative act; to abolish by the authority of the maker or their successor; to repeal.
- v. 2
To put an end to; to do away with.
Related words
- Word family
- abrogator abrogation
Forms
- Past participle
- abrogated
e.g. abrogated → rescinded, nullified, invalidated, abolished…
Choose the right word
There we use repeal, abrogate, nullify, etc.: repeal by the enacting body, nullify by revolutionary proceedings; a later statute abrogates, without formally repealing, any earlier law with which it conflicts.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- abolish If I cannot abolish it, at least I won't support it.
- invalidate Ziri doesn't want to invalidate his ablutions.
- nullify This contract will nullify all preceding contracts.
- cancel Circumstances forced us to cancel our appointment.
- annihilate We shall annihilate anyone who stands in our way!
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| abrogate | steady | |
| abolish | falling | |
| invalidate | falling | |
| rescind | falling | |
| nullify | falling | |
| cancel | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- end1
- 4 letters
- void1, undo2, veto2
- 5 letters
- waive1, quash1, annul2
- 6 letters
- cancel2, repeal2, revoke2, vacate2, recant2, abjure
- 7 letters
- reverse2, suspend2, abolish3, retract2, subvert2, rescind2, nullify3, expunge2, obviate3, vitiate3
- 8 letters
- withdraw2, dissolve2, override3, overturn3, overrule3
- 9 letters
- eliminate4, terminate3, supersede3
- 10 letters
- contradict3, neutralize3, invalidate4, extinguish3, annihilate4, obliterate4, neutralise
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (undo2 = 2 syllables).