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

Remember when the European Commission decided Apple needed to pay $15 billion in Irish back taxes, and the EU’s General Court annulled the decision four years later because the Commission didn’t prove Apple’s cozy Irish tax arrangement gave the company a particular advantage? —David Meyer, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2023

But they are thwarted when their parents annul the union and the young girl stays home in Iowa to help her family, while the young man moves to the city. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2023

Poland last month filed legal challenges aimed at annulling three of the European Union’s main climate change policies. —Barry Hatton and Helena Alves, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Sep. 2023

Ukrainians protested in what became known as the Orange Revolution, and the election result was annulled. —Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023

In 2021, the court outlined very narrow circumstances under which a Basic Law can be annulled. —Hadas Gold, CNN, 12 Sep. 2023

Spears married childhood friend Jason Alexander in Las Vegas in 2004 for 55 hours, before the couple quickly had their union annulled. —Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023

The generals who annulled elections in Myanmar consider India a steadfast friend. —Time, 20 June 2023

Coalition members argued that unenforced and antiquated laws should be annulled. —Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2023

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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