cancel out
phrasal verb
canceled out or cancelled out; canceling out or cancelling out; cancels out
: to reduce the effect of (something) : to be equal to (something) in force or importance but have an opposite effect
The costs cancel out the benefits.
Examples of cancel out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead, a flood of money from both sides cancels out, producing stalemate rather than reform.
—
John J. Donohue, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
Tasks were easier, but extra verification and inefficiencies canceled out time savings.
—Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Three of the five birdies on Ludvig Aberg’s scorecard were cancelled out by his three bogeys at holes 1, 3 and 5.
—Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
The defense couldn’t cancel out a Capra sack/fumble that Washburn recovered at the Mines 30.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
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John J. Donohue, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
Tasks were easier, but extra verification and inefficiencies canceled out time savings.
—Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Three of the five birdies on Ludvig Aberg’s scorecard were cancelled out by his three bogeys at holes 1, 3 and 5.
—Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
The defense couldn’t cancel out a Capra sack/fumble that Washburn recovered at the Mines 30.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cancel out
Cite this Entry
“Cancel out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cancel%20out. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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