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 of annul

• offset
• correct
• neutralize

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

Bolsonaro initially asked for the election results to be annulled after an evening of chaos at some polling places that prompted authorities to extend voting by two hours. — Matthew Lee, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026

The statement said four members of the Bolsonaro family presented valid documentation and had no legal impediments to entering the country, despite the fact that Brazilian Justice had annulled their passports. — Florencia Cabral, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026

He was released from prison after 580 days and saw Brazil’s Supreme Court annul his sentence after police found messages that showed the judge who convicted him was biased. — ElÉonore Hughes, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026

Lula previously spent more than a year in prison on corruption convictions that were later annulled. — Eléonore Hughes, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

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

Rhymes for annul

• annal
• cannel
• channel
• flannel
• panel
• pannel
• multichannel
• perianal

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