as in to reject
to decide that (something or someone) is wrong; to rule against (something or someone)
The judge overruled the objection. His conviction was overruled by the supreme court.
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Recent Examples of overrule
The states are asking a judge in San Francisco federal court to overrule the changes.
—
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
The City Council voted 5-1 to approve a package of rule changes that include allowing the City Council to overrule the city’s Historical Resources Board when the board designates a property historic.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Jackson overruled his envoy, ignored the agent’s explanation and warning of grave risks, and instructed him to follow the original mandate.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
That would overrule a decision by the Planning and Design Commission earlier this month to approve the 332-apartment development in East Sacramento and grant it the city’s first exemption under a new state law meant to speed up home building.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overrule
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
The City Council voted 5-1 to approve a package of rule changes that include allowing the City Council to overrule the city’s Historical Resources Board when the board designates a property historic.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Jackson overruled his envoy, ignored the agent’s explanation and warning of grave risks, and instructed him to follow the original mandate.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
That would overrule a decision by the Planning and Design Commission earlier this month to approve the 332-apartment development in East Sacramento and grant it the city’s first exemption under a new state law meant to speed up home building.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overrule
Recent Examples of Synonyms for overrule
Verb
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Lloyd told the student he had been jumped three weeks earlier and believed someone from the fraternity he had been rejected from sent someone to attack him.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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Residents also raised $1,200 via a GoFundMe fundraising page to pressure county commissioners to reject the project.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Johnson dismissed the criticism.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Red flags worth walking away from include dismissing symptoms without investigation, attributing everything to stress or anxiety, discouraging second opinions and making patients feel rushed.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In a telephone interview with Kyodo News on Friday, Araghchi denied closing the passageway, insisting instead that countries attacking Iran face restrictions, while others were being offered assistance.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
It was denied state subsidies, records show.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Almost every Democrat who responded blamed Republicans for refusing to reopen most of DHS while continuing to negotiate on immigration enforcement funding.—
Arden Farhi,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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Trump has refused the latest proposal, and talks have stalled.—
Rebecca Santana,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The annexation petition was withdrawn because of a resolution Castle Pines City Council will consider Tuesday to develop an annexation policy.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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However, five of the players withdrew their asylum claims, while two members stayed in Australia, according to media reports.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But all that seemed to go ignored by the presenter, attendees said.—
Jesse Coburn,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
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But how can justice, let alone a meaningful reckoning, begin when the killings go on, swept under the rug by state officials and all but ignored by everyone else?—
Brendan King,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Overrule.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overrule. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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