strike down

verb

struck down; struck down also stricken down; striking down; strikes down
Synonyms of strike downnext

transitive verb

: annul, nullify
The board struck down the appointment.
especially : to declare (a law) illegal and unenforceable
The Supreme Court struck down the law.

Synonyms of strike down

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Examples of strike down in a Sentence

a law that was later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as unconstitutional
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Monday struck down one of those holds. — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Over the last two years, pretty much every longstanding NCAA eligibility rule has been struck down by a state or federal judge. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Key parts of the bill (House Bill 7) restricting college-level academic freedom and diveristy training of private businesses were struck down in court. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026 As the Kansas City Royals prepare to move downtown, two Republican state lawmakers are pressing forward with a plan to strike down a key funding source for the team’s new stadium. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strike down

Word History

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of strike down was in 1779

Rhymes for strike down

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Browse Nearby Words

strike-dog
strike down
strike fault
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Strike down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strike%20down. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

strike down

verb
: to make null and void : annul
struck down the proposal
especially : to declare (a law) illegal and unenforceable
the court struck down the law

Legal Definition

strike down

transitive verb
: annul, nullify
the trustee…can strike down transfers—J. J. White and R. S. Summers
especially : to declare (a law) illegal and unenforceable
the court struck down death penalty provisions —L. H. Tribe
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