abolish

[ uh-bol-ish ]

verb (used with object)

1. to do away with; put an end to; annul; make void:

   to abolish slavery.

   Synonyms: eliminate, extirpate, exterminate, extinguish, obliterate, annihilate, cancel, nullify, suppress

   Antonyms: establish

abolish

/ əˈbɒlɪʃ /

verb

1. tr to do away with (laws, regulations, customs, etc); put an end to

Derived Forms

• aˈbolisher, noun
• aˈbolishable, adjective
• aˈbolishment, noun

Other Words From

• a·bolish·a·ble adjective
• a·bolish·er noun
• a·bolish·ment noun
• una·bolish·a·ble adjective
• una·bolished adjective
• well-a·bolished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of abolish¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French aboliss-, long stem of abolir, from Latin abolēre “to destroy, efface”

Word History and Origins

Origin of abolish¹

C15: from Old French aboliss- (lengthened stem of abolir ), ultimately from Latin abolēre to destroy

Synonym Study

Abolish, eradicate, stamp out mean to do away completely with something. To abolish is to cause to cease, often by a summary order: to abolish a requirement. Stamp out implies forcibly making an end to something considered undesirable or harmful: to stamp out the opium traffic. Eradicate (literally, to tear out by the roots ), a formal word, suggests extirpation, leaving no vestige or trace: to eradicate all use of child labor.

Example Sentences

If you call today, Cruz will help to defeat Obamacare; but if you call right now, Cruz will work to abolish the IRS.

From The Daily Beast

The RNC is raising money from grassroots supporters with an ‘Abolish the IRS’ campaign.

From The Daily Beast

Abraham Lincoln used his term as the 16th President of the United States to win the Civil War and abolish slavery.

From The Daily Beast

Ima Matul is a Survivor Organizer for the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST).

From The Daily Beast

Homeschoolers would likely be exempt, then, but we do need to abolish the Classics Major.

From The Daily Beast

Deliver us not up for ever, we beseech thee, for thy name's sake, and abolish not thy covenant.

From Project Gutenberg

They also took it upon themselves to abolish approximately one-third of the local jobs created by the Underwood Constitution.

From Project Gutenberg

That is, they suffered not the power of Antiochus, that man of sin, to abolish the law and religion of God.

From Project Gutenberg

Even in order to abolish these oaths, the going into parliament by swearing any of them, cannot be recommended.

From Project Gutenberg

This resolution went, therefore, to abolish the right of peers to vote by proxy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abrogate
• annul
• cancel
• dissolve
• eradicate
• nullify
• overthrow
• overturn
• prohibit
• put an end to
• repeal
• rescind
• revoke
• set aside
• stamp out
• suppress
• terminate
• wipe out