negate

verb

ne·​gate ni-ˈgāt 

negated; negating

transitive verb

1

: to deny the existence or truth of

negated and denied her own honest reactions

—Sara H. Hay

2

: to cause to be ineffective or invalid

Alcohol can negate the effects of some medicines.

negate noun

negator

ni-ˈgā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• contradict
• deny
• disaffirm
• disallow
• disavow
• disclaim
• disconfirm
• disown
• gainsay
• negative
• refute
• reject
• repudiate

Choose the Right Synonym for negate

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 negate in a Sentence

The fact that she lied about her work experience negated the contract.

a verb that is negated by “not”

Recent Examples on the Web

However, Zimbalist said, most of those costs are ultimately negated by near- and long-term economic losses and debt. —Alicia Wallace, CNN, 26 July 2024

The Colorado shortstop jumped on a first-pitch sweeper that Webb left over the heart of the plate and launched a two-run home run — his third in as many games — that negated the RBI double from Tyler Fitzgerald that tied the score in the top half of the inning. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 20 July 2024

Incumbent Daniel Bellinger’s Achilles heel last season was his blocking, including several costly penalties that negated positive offensive plays. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 16 July 2024

But it was negated due to an offside call. — Rookie edge rusher Mo Kamara stopped RB Jaylen Wright for no gain or a possible loss on a pitch left. —Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin negātus, past participle of negāre "to say (with the negative of a conjoined clause), deny, withhold, say no," delocutive derivative of nec "no, not" — more at neglect entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

negate

verb

ne·​gate ni-ˈgāt 

negated; negating

1

: to deny the existence or truth of

2

: to cause to be ineffective or invalid

the discovery negates all previous theories