cancel out

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

The senators also noted that grants were canceled out of the blue with form letters, which had contradictory explanations and incorrect citations. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026

The group has backed two of its own initiatives, Proposition 41 and Proposition 42, which would cancel out the billionaire tax if either receives more votes than the billionaire tax, even if the billionaire tax is also approved. — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026

Lina Boussaha had scored late for Algeria, canceling out Kautar Azraf’s goal before the break for the hosts. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Both of their adaptations are still in play, with the second not canceling out the first. — David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026

Rhymes for cancel out

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout