negative

1 a vote or decision against something in the absence of an unambiguous negative from the commander, we decided to continue on the mission Synonyms nay, no, non placetRelated Words con; blackball, veto; denial, negation, refusalNear Antonyms pro; acceptance, approval, graceAntonyms positive, yea, yes

2 something that is as different as possible from something else the desire to control another person is actually the negative of real love Synonyms antipode, antithesis, contrary, counter, opposite, obverse, reverseRelated Words negation; antonym; counterpoint; converse, inverse, mirror imageNear Antonyms synonym; analogue (or analog), counterpart; carbon copy, copy, duplicate, replica

3 a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success the main negative of this job is that I have to get up at 4:30 a.m. Synonyms debit, disbenefit, downside, drawback, handicap, incommodity, liability, minus, disadvantage, strikeRelated Words albatross, millstone, stranglehold; disability, impairment; failing, shortcoming; bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, rub, shackle, stop, trammelNear Antonyms vantage; head start, jump, lead, margin, start; ascendancy (also ascendency), better, command, control, drop, mastery, predominance, superiority, supremacy, transcendence, upper hand; prerogative, privilege; break, opportunity; aid, assistance, helpAntonyms advantage, asset, edge, plus

1 to reject by or as if by a vote although the rebuttal was very eloquent, the jury negatived it in favor of the prosecution's argument we promptly negatived the idea of having pizza again for dinner, noting that we had already had it for three nights that week Synonyms blackball, down, kill, nix, shoot down, veto Related Words decline, disallow, disapprove, dismiss, refuse; blacklist Near Antonyms admit, allow, approve, assent (to), pass, sanction; elect, support Antonyms confirm, ratify

2 to declare not to be true the governor's press secretary promptly negatived the rumor that he was not intending to run for reelection Synonyms contradict, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negate, deny, refute, reject, repudiateRelated Words traverse; challenge, confute, disprove, rebut; disagree (with), disputeNear Antonyms accept, adopt, embrace, espouse; affirm, announce, assert, aver, claim, declare, maintain, profess, submit; authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verifyAntonyms acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, confirm, own

3 to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to even though I had originally negatived the invitation, Mom thought I should go anyway Synonyms balk (at), deselect, disapprove, decline, nix, pass, pass up, refuse, reject, reprobate, repudiate, spurn, throw out, throw over, turn downRelated Words blow off, disdain, rebuff, scorn, scout, shoot down; overrule, veto; forbid, prohibit, proscribe; dismiss, ignore; abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from); deny, disavow, disclaim, dispute, gainsay; stick; abjure, forswear (also foreswear), recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw; avoid, bypass, detour; contradict, deny, disown, negate; controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute; back down, back off, backtrack; disallow, recall, renege, revokeNear Antonyms condone, countenance, swallow, tolerate; adopt, embrace, receive, take, welcome; accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent; choose, handpick, select; espouse, supportAntonyms accept, agree (to), approve

4 to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective no amount of flattery is likely to negative that overheard insult Synonyms annul, cancel (out), compensate (for), correct, counteract, counterbalance, counterpoise, make up (for), offset, neutralizeRelated Words invalidate, negate, neuter, nullify; atone (for); outbalance, outweigh, redeem; redress, relieve, remedy; override, overrule

5 to be unwilling to grant ultimately, we negatived the request for a personal loan Synonyms decline, disallow, disapprove, deny, nix, refuse, reject, reprobate, withholdRelated Words ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto; rebuff, repel, spurn; check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict; balk (at), hinder, impede, obstructNear Antonyms afford, furnish, give, provide, supply; authorize, commission, license (also licence); accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), warrant; accord, sanction, vouchsafeAntonyms allow, concede, grant, let, OK (or okay), permit