invalidate

verb

in·​val·​i·​date (ˌ)in-ˈva-lə-ˌdāt 

invalidated; invalidating; invalidates

transitive verb

: to make invalid

especially : to weaken or destroy the cogency of

invalidation

(ˌ)in-ˌva-lə-ˈdā-shən 

noun

invalidator

in-ˈva-lə-ˌdā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• abate
• abolish
• abrogate
• annul
• avoid
• cancel
• disannul
• dissolve
• negate
• null
• nullify
• quash
• repeal
• rescind
• roll back
• strike down
• vacate
• void

Choose the Right Synonym for invalidate

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 invalidate in a Sentence

actions that will invalidate the contract

The study invalidates earlier theories.

factors that may invalidate the test results

Recent Examples on the Web

Prosecutors allege that Trump participated in a plot to submit fake election certificates to Congress, aiming to invalidate Biden’s win. —Nik Popli, TIME, 25 Apr. 2024

Wright and Mundt are asking the court to invalidate the remaining signatures collected by the high school student. —Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2024

Former President Trump’s $175 million bond judgment stemming from his non-jury civil trial will stand, a New York judge ruled Monday after New York Attorney General Letitia James attempted to invalidate it. —Brooke Singman, Fox News, 22 Apr. 2024

The Democratic Party will be fighting hard to invalidate Kennedy's signatures. —Allison Novelo, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024

Nothing in our conversation aimed to invalidate these businesses, all of which count among the city’s finest beacons for Japanese Californian cooking. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024

The Supreme Court on Tuesday is hearing arguments in a high-stakes case that could invalidate felony obstruction charges for more than 300 individuals connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack -- including former President Donald Trump. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2024

Lawyers for Davis argued in a February court filing that the law that took effect in 2022 invalidates Davis’ sentencing enhancements for four prior serious felony convictions and three previous prison terms and entitles him to a full resentencing. —John Woolfolk, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024

Absentee ballots: Wisconsin faced a barrage of lawsuits from Trump allies in 2020 aimed at invalidating Democratic votes in the battleground state. —Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

invalidate

verb

in·​val·​i·​date (ˈ)in-ˈval-ə-ˌdāt 

: to weaken or destroy the effect of

evidence invalidating their claim

invalidation

(ˌ)in-ˌval-ə-ˈdā-shən 

noun

Legal Definition

invalidate

transitive verb

in·​val·​i·​date in-ˈva-lə-ˌdāt 

: to make or declare invalid

invalidation

in-ˌva-lə-ˈdā-shən 

noun