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

• 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

If the high court rules in the favor of the comptroller general who filed the suit, the port sale would be annulled. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 Oct. 2025

Mignini had also faced allegations of abuse of office in 2006 for authorizing unauthorized wiretaps during the Monster of Florence investigation; he was convicted in 2010, but the ruling was later annulled. —Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 22 Oct. 2025

But Cuba’s Supreme Court annulled the acquittals in May and ordered new trials after the government prosecutor in the case complained about the decision, according to the documents. —Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025

The Constitutional Court annulled the entire first round just days before the runoff. —Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025

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