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Undo vs Abolish - What's the difference?

undo | abolish |

As verbs the difference between undo and abolish

is that undo is to reverse the effects of an action while abolish is to end a law, system, institution, custom or practice .

As an adjective undo

is .

undo

English

Etymology 1

Verb

  • To reverse the effects of an action.
  • Fortunately, we can undo most of the damage to the system by the war.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=October 15 , author=Michael Da Silva , title=Wigan 1 - 3 Bolton , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=But Wigan undid their good work by conceding an avoidable second goal deep into first-half injury time.}}
  • To unfasten.
  • Could you undo my buckle for me?
  • (figuratively) to be heading for or to cause a downfall
  • * 1611 ,
  • Woe is me, for I am undone !

    Synonyms

    * cancel, reverse * unbuckle, unbutton, untie, unzip

    Antonyms

    * redo * do up, button, button up, tie up, zip, zip up,

    Etymology 2

    Adjective

    (head)
  • References

    Anagrams

    * English irregular verbs ----

    abolish

    English

    Verb

    (es)
  • To end a law, system, institution, custom or practice.
  • Slavery was abolished in the nineteenth century.
  • * 2002', William Schabas, ''The '''abolition of the death penalty in international law (Cambridge University Press):
  • (archaic) To put an end to or destroy, as a physical object; to wipe out.
  • * :
  • And with thy blood abolish so reproachful blot.
  • * :
  • His quick instinctive hand Caught at the hilt, as to abolish him.

    Synonyms

    * abrogate, annul, cancel, dissolve, nullify, repeal, revoke

    Antonyms

    * establish, found

    References