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

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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 Following the Civil War and Reconstruction, prisons were a way of circumventing the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026 The Sox went all-in on analytics this postseason, abolishing pitching roles and starting from scratch. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026 Some Democrats have avoided calls to abolish ICE entirely, though the idea did gain traction following those fatal shootings. — Ford McCracken, The Hill, 13 Oct. 2026 The old caste system that privileged the samurai was abolished. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 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
  • The Greenwich Sentinel reported that at a recent forum, Democrat Jill Oberlander, candidate for the town’s 36th Senate District seat, said that the law should be amended or repealed, and stressed her support for community zoning authority.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Trades Council endorsed the campaign for repealing the law, according to Ballotpedia, while Schmidt spent heavily to defend it.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of repeal
Verb
  • Yet, we’re told by this administration that non-citizen voting is rampant and must be eradicated.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Plans to eradicate the remaining invasive mammals is already underway.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of eradicate
Verb
  • Classes, activities and athletic events across Bend-La Pine Schools are canceled tomorrow, the district announced.
    — Phil Helsel, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Ossoff last year also pressed Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin for canceling public health and environmental grants.
    — Maydeen Merino, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of cancel
Verb
  • Credit stress at CoreWeave, concerns over corporate AI spending and another hot inflation report erased more than $1 trillion from 20 of the world's largest AI and semiconductor stocks this week.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • His apprehension turned into anger when the city’s Department of Transportation erased the DIY crosswalks two months later.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of erase
Verb
  • American norms about politics, science, education and law are being overturned, and artificial intelligence threatens further disruption.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kathryne Ann Stoltz rejected Luster's attempt to overturn his convictions but granted him a new sentencing hearing.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of overturn
Verb
  • Rather than undertaking the difficult but just and moral work of reform of the nation's immigration laws, Vance would destroy and expel their families with a smile, claiming that such actions will save you money.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Running low on fuel, NASA chose to steer Cassini straight into Saturn's atmosphere, where the spacecraft was destroyed.
    — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of destroy

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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 21 Oct. 2026.

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