negate

1
2
3
as in to discredit
to think not to be true or real you simply can't negate your feelings for someone, even if they don't feel the same way about you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb negate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of negate are abrogate, annul, invalidate, and nullify. While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other.

the arguments negate each other

How do abrogate and annul relate to one another, in the sense of negate?

Abrogate is like annul but more definitely implies a legal or official act.

a law to abrogate trading privileges

When is it sensible to use annul instead of negate?

The words annul and negate can be used in similar contexts, but annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action.

the treaty annuls all previous agreements

When could invalidate be used to replace negate?

The synonyms invalidate and negate are sometimes interchangeable, but invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness.

the court invalidated the statute

When might nullify be a better fit than negate?

In some situations, the words nullify and negate are roughly equivalent. However, nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something.

a penalty nullified the touchdown

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of negate On Thursday, the Justice Department also filed a lawsuit against Boston, Wu and the local police department seeking to negate the city’s Trust Act, a 2014 city law limiting local cooperation with federal immigration actions. Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 8 Sep. 2025 However, nothing negates the unique way in which people from the South embrace socializing with each other, which brings us to a potentially awkward situation that arises often enough and gives grief to even the most polite Southerners. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025 Unfortunately, a penalty negated most of Thornton’s gain. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025 But posting the video of the strike on social media negates the covert aspect. Emily Goodin, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for negate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for negate
Verb
  • Alan Jackson, a lawyer for Joaquin, denied the charges.
    Luc Cohen, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • As press secretary, Jean-Pierre repeatedly denied reports regarding Biden’s mental fitness during his time in office.
    Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Iranian authorities must immediately implement a moratorium on all executions and abolish the death penalty.
    Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The Department of Labor withdrew a plan to establish a minimum wage for workers with disabilities and abolished wage protections for the home-health aides who assist millions of seniors and disabled people.
    E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Holmes likewise discredited the MS-13 accusation, for which prosecutors relied on the testimony of coöperating witnesses who either contradicted one another or were otherwise unreliable.
    Cristian Farias, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The Cordell report has since been discredited — missing transcripts, factual errors and even confusion of key witnesses.
    Matthew J. Frauenfeld, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Szymon Laks, conductor of one of several male orchestras at Auschwitz-Birkenau, vehemently refuted the notion that music was helpful to anyone in the camp.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Ghana’s officials refuted the claims of the lawyers, saying the individuals were returned to their home nations.
    Filip Timotija, The Hill, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Initially, both the Treasury Department and key congressional leaders were determined to repeal the SALT deduction entirely.
    Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Federal officials have said that repealing the rule would allow for more flexible management for local land managers and aid in preventing destructive wildfires.
    John Leos, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But Democrats have long conceded that the party needs a new vision after voters soundly rejected their presidential ticket last fall, and internal squabbles about the party’s future have spilled out into the public.
    Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025
  • China has rejected the accusation and accused the Philippines of damaging the coral reef ecosystem in the waterway instead.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • He's witnessed countless episodes of passengers wearing noise-canceling headphones and earbuds walking through airport terminals, oblivious to their surroundings and putting themselves and others in danger.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • That proposal was canceled after bipartisan opposition in the Senate.
    Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • However, by sharing so much of Lisa's code, the interface practically demanded a pointing device, and the mouse was selected, even though Raskin had so carefully tried to avoid it.
    Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • These writers will work under the latest Public Television Freelance Agreement, which the WGA East ratified in December after a lengthy and sometimes contentious negotiation cycle with PBS, narrowly avoiding a strike.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Negate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negate. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on negate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!