negate

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as in to discredit
to think not to be true or real you simply can't negate your feelings for someone, even if they don't feel the same way about you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb negate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of negate are abrogate, annul, invalidate, and nullify. While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other.

the arguments negate each other

How do abrogate and annul relate to one another, in the sense of negate?

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

a law to abrogate trading privileges

When is it sensible to use annul instead of negate?

The words annul and negate can be used in similar contexts, but annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action.

the treaty annuls all previous agreements

When could invalidate be used to replace negate?

The synonyms invalidate and negate are sometimes interchangeable, but invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness.

the court invalidated the statute

When might nullify be a better fit than negate?

In some situations, the words nullify and negate are roughly equivalent. However, 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 negate That big hit to last season’s income statement was negated by another lever being pulled. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025 However, officials determined that Edmunds was down by contact and negated the 96-yard return. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025 McDaniel was blunt about his view of the tripping call against Ollie Gordon that negated a long completion to Jaylen Waddle. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025 Henderson gained 27 yards on a pin-and-pull toss away from Myles Garrett, then the Pats ran a jet sweep, crack toss and speed option run; more plays designed to negate a strong edge rush and involve weaker-tackling corners. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for negate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for negate
Verb
  • Despite vocal support from Aspire Capitol Heights families and a concerted effort from school leaders to prove that the school’s fiscal and academic issues could be solved, the board voted 4-1 to deny the school’s charter renewal.
    Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • My mother has been denied access to medical care, the right to speak, and every basic human freedom.
    Kim Aris, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
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
  • Angels counsel has attempted to discredit these former employees, portraying them as bitter because of their dismissals from the club.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Some of these posts that claim to show theft as a result of no SNAP have been discredited, while others questioned for their authenticity.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Spotify also refuted that the program only helps major label artists, contending that the feature is popular among both major and independent acts.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Rosen refuted Palomares’ claim, saying the tugboat captain was reckless and should have been on the lookout for recreational boaters who frequent those waters.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 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
  • And the British nations, as ever, remained aloof, England rejecting a late offer to step in for Austria.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Democrats are pushing to extend soon-to-expire health care tax credits and reverse earlier Medicaid cuts, but Republicans have rejected those proposals.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 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
  • 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

“Negate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negate. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on negate

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