Synonym Chooser

How does the verb invalidate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of invalidate are abrogate, annul, negate, and nullify. While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness.

the court invalidated the statute

How are the words abrogate and annul related as synonyms of invalidate?

Abrogate is like annul but more definitely implies a legal or official act.

a law to abrogate trading privileges

When is annul a more appropriate choice than invalidate?

The meanings of annul and invalidate largely overlap; however, annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action.

the treaty annuls all previous agreements

When could negate be used to replace invalidate?

Although the words negate and invalidate have much in common, negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other.

the arguments negate each other

When can nullify be used instead of invalidate?

While the synonyms nullify and invalidate are close in meaning, nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something.

a penalty nullified the touchdown

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of invalidate Smart & Safe Florida, a political committee trying to again put a recreational marijuana constitutional amendment on the ballot, filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Cord Byrd last week, accusing him of trying to invalidate about 200,000 petitions without any basis in law. Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025 Democratic voting rights group estimate that gutting the Voting Rights Act’s protections against vote dilution could help Republicans win an additional 27 House seats − including 19 that would directly result from invalidating the law’s protections. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025 Trump issued a version of it at the end of his first term but it was invalidated by the Biden administration almost immediately. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025 By using the Congressional Review Act to overturn these local resource plans, Congress is setting a precedent that could potentially invalidate all resource management plans passed since 1996, when the Congressional Review Act became law. Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for invalidate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invalidate
Verb
  • For more than 100 years, enslaved people lived and labored in the colonies, but after the Revolutionary War, northern states eventually abolished most forms of enslavement by the early 1800s, led by Vermont in 1777.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Trump has spent the last week-plus pressuring Republicans to abolish the filibuster to end the government shutdown, now the longest in history, through a simple majority vote in the Senate.
    Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The courthouse is named after Osvaldo Soto, a Cuban-American lawyer who led the fight in the 1980s to repeal the county’s English-only ordinance that, among other things, stopped clerks from conducting courthouse weddings in Spanish.
    Douglas Hanks November 10, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The Boise City Council plans to repeal the city ordinance that allows a disorderly conduct misdemeanor charge for loitering on private property, according to a settlement agreement obtained by the Idaho Statesman.
    Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • While it's left some passengers making backup plans and reserving rental cars, the flights canceled Friday represented just a small portion of overall flights nationwide.
    JOSH FUNK, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2025
  • If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed due to the cuts, you’re legally entitled to a cash refund, not just some future credit.
    The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The vehicle overturned and McClure was ejected from it.
    Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The justices are also deciding whether to overturn restrictions on coordinated spending between parties and candidates, whether to curtail protections against racial discrimination in voting, and when candidates can contest an Illinois election law similar to Mississippi’s.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The Supreme Court ruling nullified the state's ban.
    Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 11 Nov. 2025
  • The phrase ‘regulate…importation’ is surrounded by verbs like ‘nullify, void, prevent, and prohibit,’ so it, too, should be interpreted broadly — to include tariffs.
    Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Take extra caution when on the road or avoid driving if possible.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Flyers should try to mitigate any headaches from delays and cancellations by avoiding booking flights with layovers, the non-profit US Public Interest Research Group says, and opt to make reservations directly with the airline rather than a third-party website.
    Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Invalidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invalidate. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on invalidate

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