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

Other Word Forms

• abolishable adjective
• abolisher noun
• abolishment noun
• unabolishable adjective
• unabolished adjective
• well-abolished 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

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has estimated that abolishing stamp duty on primary residences will cost around £4.5bn.

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It has also made £9bn worth of spending commitments on policies including a £5,000 tax rebate for young people and abolishing business rates for High Street shops.

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The Conservatives have pledged to abolish the Sentencing Council and give ministers the power to issue guidelines to courts in England and Wales.

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The party is promising that if elected, it would abolish the post-Brexit carbon pricing system put in place by Boris Johnson as a key part of his net zero plans.

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"While the motion to conference had an eye-catching name, it does not actually 'abolish' landlords," she said.

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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