strike down

verb

struck down; struck down also stricken down; striking down; strikes down

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

• abate
• abolish
• abrogate
• annul
• avoid
• cancel
• disannul
• dissolve
• invalidate
• negate
• null
• nullify
• quash
• repeal
• rescind
• roll back
• vacate
• void

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

These actions reflect a broader legal movement challenging DEI policies in corporations, education, and government following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision striking down affirmative action in college admissions. —Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Jan. 2025

In a memo, Meta acknowledged the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to strike down affirmative action in college admissions as a key factor in the move. —Jackson Walker, Baltimore Sun, 24 Jan. 2025

The previous Purdue bankruptcy settlement was struck down by the Supreme Court in June 2024. —Katrina Kaufman, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2025

The 2023 Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action in college admissions opened the floodgates to similar challenges in the employment world. —Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

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