abolish

verb

ə-ˈbä-lish How to pronounce abolish (audio)
Definition of abolishnext
1
as in to repeal
to put an end to by formal action the U.S. abolished slavery by constitutional amendment on December 6, 1865

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to eradicate
to destroy all traces of if only there were a way that we could abolish hatred and intolerance

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 abolish Debates over abolishing or scaling back the institution, which occasionally flare up in the United Kingdom and other nations, are rare in Norway. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 While his party debates abolishing prisons and owning grocery stores, Democratic Mayor Daniel Lurie is cleaning up his city. — Kate Andrews, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026 More recently, Republicans who spent years complaining about Obamacare have failed to abolish it, let alone reform its finances. — Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026 Calls to abolish capital punishment or increase transparency have grown after the 2024 acquittal of the world’s longest-serving death-row inmate, Iwao Hakamada. — ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abolish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abolish
  1. repeal
  2. eradicate
  3. cancel
  4. erase
  5. overturn
  6. destroy
Verb
  • By contrast, Congress repealed federal restrictions and taxes on brewing beer for personal use in 1978.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In 2022, Williams helped lead a group of residents to introduce and pass ballot measures that repealed three of El Dorado Hills’ LLADs.
    — Haley Parsley August 28, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of repeal
Verb
  • For decades, deer had populated Santa Rosa Island, but they were eradicated from the island at the end of 2011 to restore its native ecosystem and protect its natural vegetation.
    — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Within a year of its onset, the economic depression practically eradicated the need to mint any new coinage for months.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of eradicate
Verb
  • Tennis has always been highly dependent on the weather; unlike in soccer or football, rain cancels or delays a match until the court is dry enough to be playable.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Flights to vacation destinations were canceled, delayed or rerouted.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of cancel
Verb
  • But Bama followed with a 38-3 quarterfinal flop to Indiana, erasing any momentum and placing DeBoer squarely under the microscope entering a pivotal third season.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The 68-year-old also lost her husband and her son, who worked at a local hydropower plant, in the flash floods that hit the region on Wednesday, erasing entire communities.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of erase
Verb
  • But if the stay is lifted or overturned, USPS would require states to submit lists of mail ballot recipients and get approval for envelope and ballot designs with individualized barcodes.
    — Peter Weber, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Bans can last five to 10 years, and some have been successfully overturned in court, lawyers say.
    — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of overturn
Verb
  • In 2025, Ukraine smuggled over 100 drones into Russia inside cargo trucks to conduct strikes that damaged or destroyed roughly one-third of Russia’s active bomber fleet and caused approximately $7 billion in damages.
    — Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Some 36,000 houses and buildings were destroyed or damaged, and more than 2,000 people are still living in evacuation centers, including school gymnasiums and community centers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of destroy

Browse Nearby Words

aboil
abolish
abolished
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Cite this Entry

“Abolish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abolish. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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