annul

verb

an·​nul ə-ˈnəl 

annulled; annulling

transitive verb

1

: to declare or make legally invalid or void

wants the marriage annulled

His title to the estate was annulled.

2

: to reduce to nothing : obliterate

3

: to make ineffective or inoperative : neutralize

annul a drug's effect

Synonyms

• cancel (out)
• compensate (for)
• correct
• counteract
• counterbalance
• counterpoise
• make up (for)
• negative
• neutralize
• offset

Choose the Right Synonym for annul

nullify, negate, annul, abrogate, invalidate mean to deprive of effective or continued existence.

nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something.

a penalty nullified the touchdown

negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other.

the arguments negate each other

annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action.

the treaty annuls all previous agreements

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

a law to abrogate trading privileges

invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness.

the court invalidated the statute

Examples of annul in a Sentence

unfortunately, his arrogant attitude annuls the many generous favors he does for people

plans to annul their short-lived, ill-advised marriage

Recent Examples on the Web

Councilwoman Maureen Porras asked if the new measure would effectively annul Doral’s prior resolution to support Israel’s right to defend itself. —Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024

The remaining candidate’s uncontested victory was later annulled by a federal elections court. —David Shortell, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English annullen, from Anglo-French annuller, from Late Latin annullare, from Latin ad- + nullus not any — more at null

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

annul

verb

an·​nul ə-ˈnəl 

annulled; annulling

1

: to make ineffective : neutralize

2

: to bring to an end legally

annul a marriage

annulment

ə-ˈnəl-mənt

noun

Legal Definition

annul

transitive verb

an·​nul ə-ˈnəl 

annulled; annulling

1

: to declare (a marriage) to have never validly existed compare divorce

2

a

: to make legally void

b

: to declare to no longer have legal effect