STRIKING DOWN Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

striking down

verb

present participle of strike down

as in abolishing

to put an end to by formal action a law that was later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as unconstitutional

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Recent Examples of striking down The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Hasan in March 2025, striking down his final appeal well over a decade after his court-martial conviction. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026 The association later won a lawsuit, striking down the city of Berkeley’s ordinance and halting others across the state. — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 The case could be understood, then, as a straightforward matter of striking down state laws that violated a national one. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Lawyers for the families argue that the 5th Circuit – the most conservative appeals court in the country – flouted the Supreme Court’s 1980 decision striking down a Kentucky law that’s nearly identical to Texas’ requirement. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026 The high court dealt Trump both of the losses during the term that ended in June, striking down his executive order to end birthright citizenship and blocking his attempt to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. — Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 7 Aug. 2026 The 2024 ruling striking down the law as unconstitutional had been on hold pending appeal, so Wednesday’s reversal does not change the status quo. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 The 2024 ruling striking down the law as unconstitutional had been on hold pending appeal, so Wednesday's reversal does not change the status quo. — CBS News, 29 July 2026 Either way, in striking down the Louisiana voting map as a racial gerrymander, this outcome could influence how other states defend or challenge maps, too. — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for striking down

Verb

Other New York literati, like Camille Paglia, expressed similar views and endorsed the organization’s goal of abolishing the age of consent.

— Jack Denton, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Yet abolishing Greek life altogether is far from an easy proposition.

— Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of abolishing

Verb

The lawmakers argued that repealing the credits while major projects were still under construction would jeopardize investments already underway and the jobs tied to them.

— Kayla Morton, The Conversation, 19 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 repealing

Verb

No one could’ve blamed the grieving community for canceling the game.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2026
Hours earlier, the 77-year-old wrestling Hall of Famer apologized on social media site X for canceling a weekend appearance at the Washington State Horror Con in Puyallup.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of canceling

Verb

To minimize bricking risks, some users suggest rolling back to the official stock firmware (v15) via M-VAVE’s official updater first, and only then flashing the next custom firmware build.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 26 Oct. 2026
For many, that meant rolling back federal recommendations and approvals for vaccines.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of rolling back

Verb

Kushner so far has participated little in the ceremony of the job, avoiding most receptions and ribbon cuttings.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Exercise, avoiding alcohol or even getting enough sleep aren’t the factors most connected to college students’ well-being.

— Roxanne Prichard, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of avoiding

Verb

For instance, the measure would prevent courts from overturning approvals of qualifying projects because of CEQA violations.

— Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Three previous attempts to evict the 87-year-old were denied by the courts, but in March, the Supreme Court ruled against her, overturning a January 2022 decision in her favor.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026