1
as in vetoes
a vote or decision against something
in the absence of an unambiguous negative from the commander, we decided to continue on the mission
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposites
something that is as different as possible from something else
the desire to control another person is actually the negative of real love
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantages
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in downs
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in denies
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in refuses
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in offsets
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective
no amount of flattery is likely to negative that overheard insult
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in rejects
to be unwilling to grant
ultimately, we negatived the request for a personal loan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of negatives
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026
The exhibition has glass negatives of photographs of Yellowstone National Park taken by William Henry Jackson, commemorating the park’s 1872 founding.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
Shift Towards Progress Goals, Not Outcomes Because of the up-and-down nature of the rehabilitation, along with the potential temporary decline in athletic skill, your child might look at their performance and see more negatives than positives.
—Jonathan Carone, Parents, 16 Feb. 2026
Financial negatives in both the Universal sky and your sign’s sector of finance are a double-whammy to avoid.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
All things considered the negatives outweigh the positives.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Yet many parents see only the negatives.
—Anthony V. MacK, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
This would have involved combining several negatives, either by printing them together in a darkroom or cutting and pasting and then rephotographing them.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
There is a nearly equal balance of positives and negatives in CSCO stock, considering its overall Moderate operating performance and financial condition.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
But leaders are adamant that workers shouldn’t get bogged down by the negatives, and leverage the tools to their advantage.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2026
The exhibition has glass negatives of photographs of Yellowstone National Park taken by William Henry Jackson, commemorating the park’s 1872 founding.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2026
Shift Towards Progress Goals, Not Outcomes Because of the up-and-down nature of the rehabilitation, along with the potential temporary decline in athletic skill, your child might look at their performance and see more negatives than positives.
—Jonathan Carone, Parents, 16 Feb. 2026
Financial negatives in both the Universal sky and your sign’s sector of finance are a double-whammy to avoid.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
All things considered the negatives outweigh the positives.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Yet many parents see only the negatives.
—Anthony V. MacK, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
This would have involved combining several negatives, either by printing them together in a darkroom or cutting and pasting and then rephotographing them.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
There is a nearly equal balance of positives and negatives in CSCO stock, considering its overall Moderate operating performance and financial condition.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for negatives
Noun
-
Reflexive vetoes of new experiments, as the Simple Summaries spat highlighted last summer, is not genuine conversation.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Jan. 2026
-
That funding was later vetoed by the governor as part of broader cultural budget vetoes.—
Geo Darder,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
They are modeled as attractive opposites.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Related Stories There, June becomes entangled in a love triangle with two boys who are best friends and polar opposites.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Hanjiro still thinks highly of them both, although each pupil faces disadvantages.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The war in Ukraine has only deepened Russia’s disadvantages.—
Alan Cullison,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Greene downs it, throws the kid his jersey, smiles, and all is right with the world.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
-
But Sarah Graves gives a bit too much room and Penn downs a 3-pointeron the wing.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Meta, for its part, denies the accusations and says it’s implemented numerous measures to safeguard young users.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Attorney Chris Huber, who is representing Frost V, said his client denies the allegations in the secretary of state's investigation.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Russia demands Ukraine cede eastern territory and renounce NATO membership; Kyiv refuses to surrender land without security guarantees.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The New York mayor acknowledges that tax hikes are painful but refuses to meaningfully cut spending.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The hope is that the large size of the sample offsets concerns about the demographics of respondents.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Figma is betting that usage will convert into revenue that offsets the infrastructure costs.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
My child automatically rejects paying for parking, especially when there are other options.—
Harvey Levine,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Hunter-Torricke rejects these criticisms.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Negatives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negatives. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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