strike down

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Definition
  1. Verb (Transitive):
    • To cause to fall by or as if by a forceful blow: To knock something or someone to the ground, often with a single, powerful action.
    • To cause to die, especially suddenly: To kill or fatally afflict someone, often implying a swift or unexpected death.
    • To declare null and void; to make ineffective: To officially invalidate or cancel something, such as a law or ruling, often through legal authority.
Usage Examples
  • Verb:
    • The lumberjack will strike down the old pine tree. (Causing to fall by a blow)
    • A sudden illness can strike down even the healthiest person. (Causing sudden death)
    • The Supreme Court voted to strike down the controversial law. (Declaring null and void)
Advanced Usage

  • Legal/Judicial Context: Most commonly used to describe the action of a court invalidating a statute, regulation, or legal precedent.

    • The judge struck down the clause as unconstitutional.

  • Figurative Use for Ideas or Proposals: Can be used metaphorically to mean decisively rejecting or defeating a plan or argument.

    • The committee chairman struck down the proposal before a vote could be taken.
Variants and Related Words
  • Strike (verb): The root verb, meaning to hit, to occur suddenly (e.g., an idea strikes), or to stop work in protest.
  • Stricken (adjective): Deeply affected, as by trouble, illness, or emotion. (e.g., , ).
Synonyms
  • Fell / Cut down: (For causing to fall)
  • Kill / Slay: (For causing death)
  • Overturn / Annul / Invalidate / Nullify: (For declaring void)
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Strike out: To be unsuccessful; to delete text; in baseball, to be called out on strikes.
  • Strike up: To begin something, such as a conversation or a piece of music.
Related Idioms
  • Strike a blow for/against: To do something important to support or oppose a cause.
  • Strike while the iron is hot: To act decisively at the most opportune moment.
Verb
  1. cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
    • strike down a tree
    • Lightning struck down the hikers
  2. cause to die, especially suddenly
    • The disease struck down many young men in the village
  3. declare null and void; make ineffective
    • Cancel the election results
    • strike down a law

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