Synonyms of negate

negate

verb

ni-ˈgāt 

1

as in to deny

to declare not to be true

this evidence negates his claim that he was not at the scene of the crime

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deny
• refute
• reject
• contradict
• disallow
• disavow
• disclaim
• negative
• disown
• repudiate
• gainsay
• disaffirm
• disconfirm
• disprove
• traverse
• rebut
• challenge
• disagree (with)
• dispute
• confute

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• allow
• acknowledge
• confirm
• accept
• own
• admit
• concede
• adopt
• maintain
• embrace
• assert
• affirm
• claim
• submit
• declare
• avow
• announce
• verify
• validate
• profess
• substantiate
• espouse
• aver
• corroborate
• authenticate

2

as in to abolish

to put an end to by formal action

Prohibition was established by the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, only to be negated by the 21st amendment 13 years later

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abolish
• repeal
• cancel
• avoid
• nullify
• overturn
• invalidate
• void
• abrogate
• quash
• vacate
• rescind
• dismiss
• annul
• dissolve
• revoke
• set aside
• roll back
• withdraw
• strike down
• suspend
• null
• abate
• reverse
• eliminate
• reject
• retract
• override
• remove
• overrule
• veto
• do away with
• disannul
• forbid
• prohibit
• recall
• erase
• countermand
• ban
• abort
• eradicate
• disallow
• enjoin
• call off
• outlaw
• annihilate
• call
• drop
• liquidate
• write off
• throw out
• break down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• establish
• enact
• found
• lay down
• legislate
• legitimate
• validate
• pass
• institute
• allow
• permit
• approve
• authorize
• ratify
• legitimize
• warrant
• endorse
• order
• prescribe
• clear
• legalize
• formalize
• command
• sanction
• mandate
• decree

3

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

• deny
• discredit
• disbelieve
• doubt
• refute
• reject
• disprove
• suspect
• repudiate
• distrust
• deride
• debunk
• mistrust
• scoff (at)
• pooh-pooh

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• believe
• accept
• swallow
• trust
• credit

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

Recent Examples of negate

The persistence of this magnitude of team-level failure seeps into leaguewide impressions of veteran Canucks players, limiting their exchange value, or, in the case of players that are in their late 20s or early 30s and signed to long-term contracts, negating it entirely. —Thomas Drance, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026

Former Big Bend Superintendent Bob Krumenaker, who retired in 2023, told National Parks Traveler this technology could negate the need for a physical wall. —Outside, 10 Mar. 2026

Another reason is that in many European leagues, a large share of broadcasting revenue comes from viewers’ pay-TV subscriptions, negating some of the incentives behind sweeping ad rollouts. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026

The all-season style negates the need to purchase more than one comforter, and its hypoallergenic lyocell design—made to fit bed frames from twin to California king size—is fully machine washable. —Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026