Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

negate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of negate

1 to declare not to be true

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

contradict, deny, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negative, refute, reject, repudiate
Words Related to negate

traverse

challenge, confute, disprove, rebut

disagree (with), dispute
Near Antonyms of negate

accept, adopt, embrace, espouse

affirm, announce, assert, aver, claim, declare, maintain, profess, submit

authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verify
Antonyms of negate

acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, confirm, own

2 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 of negate

abate, abolish, abrogate, annul, avoid, cancel, disannul, dissolve, invalidate, null, nullify, quash, repeal, rescind, roll back, strike down, vacate, void
Words Related to negate

countermand, override, overrule, overturn, veto

abort, call, call off, drop, recall, retract, reverse, revoke, suspend, withdraw

ban, enjoin, forbid, outlaw, prohibit

disallow, dismiss, reject

annihilate, break down, eliminate, eradicate, erase, liquidate, remove, throw out, write off
Phrases Synonymous with negate

do away with, set aside
Near Antonyms of negate

enact, lay down, legislate

establish, found, institute

formalize, legalize, legitimate, legitimize, validate

pass, ratify

allow, approve, authorize, clear, endorse (also indorse), permit, sanction, warrant

command, decree, mandate, order, prescribe

3 to think not to be true or real

  • you simply canʼt negate your feelings for someone, even if they donʼt feel the same way about you
Synonyms of negate

disbelieve, discredit
Words Related to negate

deny, reject, repudiate

distrust, doubt, mistrust, suspect

debunk, disprove, refute

deride, pooh-pooh (also pooh), scoff (at)
Near Antonyms of negate

trust
Antonyms of negate

accept, believe, credit, swallow

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about negate

  1. See words that rhyme with negate Dictionary: Definition of negate Spanish Central: Translation of negate Nglish: Translation of negate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of negate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up negate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

tomfoolery

playful or foolish behavior

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. gaslight It is a word, though.

  2. invasion CNN reporter questions President.

  3. relevancy Ariana Grande slams ex-fiancé.

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games