Repeal
To revoke, annul, or officially cancel a law, regulation, or decree.
verbRepeal
To revoke, annul, or officially cancel a law, regulation, or decree.
verbImagine This
Imagine a government council voting to strike a law from the books. A large legal document is stamped with 'REPEALED' in bold red letters, then torn from a wall and discarded as the crowd cheers.
Sounds Like
ri-PEEL, rhymes with 'appeal'
Looks Like
Looks like 'repel' with an extra 'a'; visually similar to 'appeal'.
Remember This
Repealing a law is the formal process of undoing it. It frequently appears in political debates about whether to repeal or enact new regulations.
Other Forms
Connect With
revoke, rescind, annul, cancel, invalidate, abolish, overturn
Note
Don't confuse with 'repel' (to drive away) or 'repeat' (to say again). Repeal specifically means to cancel a law or regulation.
Study Deeper
- The legislature voted to repeal the outdated tax statute.
- Public outcry led to the repeal of the controversial regulation.
From Old French repeler, from Latin repellere 'to drive back; push away'; the sense evolved to mean cancel or invalidate a law.
Remove Every Prescribed Edict And Legislation — remember that repeal means taking a law off the books.
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Foment
verbTo stir up, incite, or foster the growth of something, especially trouble, unrest, or rebellion.
Reconcile
verbTo restore friendly relations between people or groups; to settle differences and bring something into harmony or agreement, such as reconciling accounts.
Baleful
adjectiveDestructive; harmful; threatening or showing the intention to cause harm.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
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.
Absolve
verbTo free someone from blame or responsibility; to pardon or exonerate.