cancel out

phrasal verb

canceled out or cancelled out; canceling out or cancelling out; cancels out
: to reduce the effect of (something) : to be equal to (something) in force or importance but have an opposite effect
The costs cancel out the benefits.

Examples of cancel out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The growth and progress of the Blue Jackets’ up-and-coming forwards should cancel out some shooting percentage regression concerns. Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025 With Prescott’s performance canceled out by yet another rough defensive outing, the result could have easily found itself in a much more unfavorable manner. Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025 The headset's mic also cancels out background noise, so your teammates actually hear your calls, not the chaos around you. PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025 However, the party that was scheduled for after the show has been canceled out of respect. Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cancel out

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Cite this Entry

“Cancel out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cancel%20out. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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