Abolish
To formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
verbAbolish
To formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
verbImagine This
A mother tries very hard to convince her stubborn daughter by saying, 'Please do away with your foolish argument!'
Sounds Like
uh-BAH-lish
Looks Like
abolition, abolished
Remember This
Abolish is commonly used in formal or legal contexts referring to laws, practices, or institutions, not people.
Other Forms
Note
Abolish is transitive: you abolish something (not a person). It is related to 'abolition' (the act or process) and 'abolitionist' (one who advocates abolition).
Study Deeper
- The government decided to abolish the old tax on luxury goods.
- Activists argued that the institution should be abolished.
From Old French abolir, via Latin abolere 'to destroy, blot out'.
Picture a government seal stamping the word 'Abolish' across a law to erase it; remember that 'ab-' means away, and the goal is to cast the old rule away.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Repeal
verbTo revoke, annul, or officially cancel a law, regulation, or decree.
Eradicate
verbTo remove or destroy completely, especially something harmful or unwanted, by rooting it out or eliminating it entirely.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abridge
verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
Abscond
verbTo depart secretly or flee, especially to avoid detection or arrest.