Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'overrule'

English Word: overrule

Key Russian Translations:

• отменить [ɐtmʲɪˈnʲitʲ] - [Formal, Legal contexts, such as court decisions]
• опровергнуть [ɐprɐˈvʲɛrknʊtʲ] - [Formal, used for challenging or refuting arguments]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in legal, administrative, and formal discussions, but not everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal language structures)

Pronunciation (Russian):

отменить: [ɐtmʲɪˈnʲitʲ]

опровергнуть: [ɐprɐˈvʲɛrknʊtʲ]

Note on отменить: The stress is on the third syllable; be careful with the soft sign (ь) which affects pronunciation, making it softer and more palatalized.

Note on опровергнуть: This word has a complex consonant cluster; practice the "пр" sound for fluency.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Primary Meaning: To reject or overturn a decision, ruling, or authority (e.g., in legal contexts)

Translation(s) & Context:

• отменить - Used in formal settings like courts or official decisions, implying complete invalidation.
• опровергнуть - Applied when refuting an argument or evidence, often in debates or academic discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Судья решил отменить предыдущее постановление из-за новых доказательств.

  The judge decided to overrule the previous ruling due to new evidence.

• В собрании участники опровергнули предложение председателя, считая его несоответствующим.

  In the meeting, participants overruled the chairman's proposal, considering it inappropriate.

• Апелляционный суд может отменить вердикт нижестоящего суда по основаниям ошибки.

  The appellate court can overrule the verdict of a lower court on the grounds of error.

• Родители решили отменить запрет на выход в город, увидев, что дети усвоили урок.

  The parents decided to overrule the ban on going out, seeing that the children had learned their lesson.

• Эксперты опровергнули теорию, предоставив противоречивые данные из исследований.

  Experts overruled the theory by providing contradictory data from studies.

Secondary Meaning: To dominate or prevail over something (less common, metaphorical use)

Translation(s) & Context:

• отменить - In metaphorical contexts, implying something stronger takes precedence.

Usage Examples:

• Его аргументы всегда отменяют любые возражения на дебатах.

  His arguments always overrule any objections in debates.

• В этой культуре традиции часто отменяют современные веяния.

  In this culture, traditions often overrule modern trends.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both primary translations are verbs, so they follow Russian verb conjugation patterns. "Отменить" is a first-conjugation verb, while "опровергнуть" is more irregular. Below is a table for "отменить" in the present tense; for "опровергнуть," note its imperfective aspect variations.

For "опровергнуть," it is often used in perfective aspect and conjugates as: опровергну (first person singular). It has an imperfective counterpart, "опровергать," which is more irregular and requires separate study for full mastery.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • аннулировать (annulirovat') - More formal, often used in legal cancellations.
  • исключить (isklyuchit') - Implies exclusion or removal from consideration.
• Antonyms:
  • утвердить (utverdit') - To confirm or approve.
  • поддержать (podderzhat') - To support or uphold.

Related Phrases:

• отменить решение - To overrule a decision; used in judicial or administrative contexts.
• опровергнуть аргумент - To overrule an argument; common in debates or scientific discussions.
• отменить запрет - To overrule a ban; implies lifting restrictions in everyday or policy scenarios.

Usage Notes:

"Отменить" directly corresponds to "overrule" in legal contexts but can also mean "cancel" in broader uses, so choose it when emphasizing invalidation. "Опровергнуть" is better for intellectual or argumentative overruling. Both are formal; avoid in casual speech. Note the aspect: use perfective for completed actions. For multiple translations, select based on context—e.g., legal vs. debate.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using "отменить" in the wrong tense, e.g., saying "отменить" instead of "отменил" for past actions. Correct: "Суд отменил решение" (The court overruled the decision). Explanation: Russian verbs must agree in tense; beginners often forget conjugation.
• Mistake: Confusing with "отказать" (to refuse), which doesn't imply overruling authority. Correct: Use "отменить" for decisions. Explanation: "Отказать" is for denials, not reversals, leading to semantic errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture and legal systems, terms like "отменить" often reflect a hierarchical structure, such as in the judiciary where higher courts can overrule lower ones. This mirrors Russia's historical emphasis on centralized authority, dating back to tsarist and Soviet eras, where decisions from above could swiftly invalidate local rulings.

Related Concepts:

• апелляция (appeal)
• решение (decision)
• спор (dispute)