negate

verb

ne·​gate ni-ˈgāt 

negated; negating

transitive verb

1

: to deny the existence or truth of

negated and denied her own honest reactions

—Sara H. Hay

2

: to cause to be ineffective or invalid

Alcohol can negate the effects of some medicines.

negate noun

negator

ni-ˈgā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• contradict
• deny
• disaffirm
• disallow
• disavow
• disclaim
• disconfirm
• disown
• gainsay
• negative
• refute
• reject
• repudiate

Choose the Right Synonym for negate

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 negate in a Sentence

The fact that she lied about her work experience negated the contract.

a verb that is negated by “not”

Recent Examples on the Web

Serafini and Emporio Armani, luminescent golden hair brought light to models’ faces, negating the need for copious amounts of makeup. —Hannah Coates, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2024

After describing its construction and use, the report offers expert witness testimony negating Scientologists’ claims, based on the modern understanding of electrical resistance. —IEEE Spectrum, 31 Mar. 2024

Dissolving the cocoa powder in hot water unlocks more of its flavor while negating the need to sift. —Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 15 Mar. 2024

The internet, however, was skeptical, and shredded that session’s data in short order, negating it. —Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024

Notably, having what the researchers considered a healthy diet didn’t negate that risk. —Maggie O'Neill, Health, 20 Mar. 2024

The most discouraging stat: 28.1 shooting overall and just 22.6 percent inside the arc, negating a season-high 20 offensive rebounds and only eight turnovers. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024

The foul negated a potential momentum swing and allowed the 49ers to reset and fend off the Shockers, securing an 11-point win in front of 4,215 Charlotte fans. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 18 Feb. 2024

Jayden Schwartz negated the power play when he was penalized for slashing at 4:28. —Scott Charles, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin negātus, past participle of negāre "to say (with the negative of a conjoined clause), deny, withhold, say no," delocutive derivative of nec "no, not" — more at neglect entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

negate

verb

ne·​gate ni-ˈgāt 

negated; negating

1

: to deny the existence or truth of

2

: to cause to be ineffective or invalid

the discovery negates all previous theories