invalidate

verb

in·val·i·date (ˌ)in-ˈva-lə-ˌdāt

invalidated; invalidating; invalidates

Synonyms of invalidate next

transitive verb

: to make invalid

especially : to weaken or destroy the cogency of

invalidation

(ˌ)in-ˌva-lə-ˈdā-shən

noun

invalidator

in-ˈva-lə-ˌdā-tər

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for invalidate

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

Example Sentences

actions that will invalidate the contract The study invalidates earlier theories. factors that may invalidate the test results

Recent Examples on the Web Even a tiny sip of water or a puff of smoke is enough to invalidate the fast. —

Niniek Karmini, ajc, 22 Mar. 2023 Washington — The Senate on Wednesday voted to invalidate a controversial plan that would overhaul the District of Columbia's criminal code, approving a resolution to nullify a D.C. law for the first time in three decades. —

Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2023 But the court declined to invalidate the entire agency. —

Robert Barnes, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Feb. 2023 But the court declined to invalidate the entire agency. —

Robert Barnes, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2023 His election lawyer, Jeffrey A. Mandell, said that if a liberal candidate won, Mr. Mandell would ask the State Supreme Court to take direct action to invalidate the state’s legislative maps on Aug. 2, the day after the new justice is seated. —

Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2023 There’s no hard proof of Schiff lying about this, and McCarthy and Republicans just as well have aimed to invalidate the impeachment inquiry overall. —

Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 25 Jan. 2023 Trump’s lawyers somehow convinced state courts or legislatures to invalidate the popular vote. —

The Editors, National Review, 21 Dec. 2022 The situation has put LGBTQ people in a difficult place: Some have felt forced to invalidate the suspect’s gender identity and others have defended it, while noting that a nonbinary person could be capable of harboring anti-LGBTQ hatred. —

Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 10 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'invalidate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.