strike down

verb

struck down; struck down also stricken down; striking down; strikes down
Synonyms of strike downnext

transitive verb

: annul, nullify
The board struck down the appointment.
especially : to declare (a law) illegal and unenforceable
The Supreme Court struck down the law.

Synonyms of strike down

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Examples of strike down in a Sentence

a law that was later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as unconstitutional
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Kalshi, represented by the attorney who convinced justices to strike down Trump’s tariffs, recently requested a month-long extension from the court. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026 In 1985, soon after arriving in the country, Leo was struck down with Typhoid fever. — Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 But, not long afterward, lawmakers in Florida approved a new map aimed at flipping four seats to Republicans, and in early May Virginia’s top court struck down the redraw there, on procedural grounds. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 LaSala did not provide further comment and pointed to the county’s lawsuit seeking to strike down parts of the sports authority law, including the provision that could bar the mayor from the board. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strike down

Word History

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of strike down was in 1779

Rhymes for strike down

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Browse Nearby Words

strike-dog
strike down
strike fault
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strike down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strike%20down. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

strike down

verb
: to make null and void : annul
struck down the proposal
especially : to declare (a law) illegal and unenforceable
the court struck down the law

Legal Definition

strike down

transitive verb
: annul, nullify
the trustee…can strike down transfers—J. J. White and R. S. Summers
especially : to declare (a law) illegal and unenforceable
the court struck down death penalty provisions —L. H. Tribe
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