negatives 1 of 2

Definition of negativesnext
plural of negative
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

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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

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negatives

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of negative
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

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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 negatives
Noun
There were times when there were positives and negatives, ups and downs. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 May 2026 Abel’s detailed knowledge about Berkshire’s operating businesses won praise, but the unexplained absence of substantial buybacks and a lack of clarity on the future of the equity portfolio and Berkshire’s big cash pile are coming up as negatives. Alex Crippen, CNBC, 9 May 2026 On one side, that means making sure original materials, such as original negatives, prints, sound elements, are properly stored, tracked, and protected. Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026 What are the negatives of I-bonds? Medora Lee, USA Today, 6 May 2026 Before his afternoon was ended so cruelly, there were positives and negatives to take from his display. Simon Johnson, New York Times, 4 May 2026 Despite this, Uber is hoping the benefits outweigh the negatives. Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 4 May 2026 McDavid and Evan Bouchard, the NHL’s leading scorer and top producer from the blue line, respectively, have been net negatives by nearly any measure thus far. Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026 But as reported by the Art Newspaper, digital renderings made from high-resolution glass negatives from a photo-documentation campaign started in 1925 are bringing the works back to life, in a way. Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for negatives
Noun
  • The House was unwilling to override two vetoes earlier this year on legislation that passed unanimously.
    Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The issue, though, is that the liberals do not have enough votes to override Lamont’s vetoes.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • To him, loyalty to the British Crown and loyalty to home were not opposites.
    Kimberly Nath, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
  • But beyond that, this conflict has a dramatic, even archetypal, quality to it, pitting polar opposites against each other.
    Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Despite these disadvantages, Spirit grew rapidly during the early two-thousands and made a profit through 2019.
    John Cassidy, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
  • Below are the advantages and disadvantages of using Hers.
    Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • Springtown takes edge in 7-4A race, downs Decatur Springtown got the inside track on the District 7-4A championship after beating Decatur 4-2 in 8 innings on Monday night at Decatur High School.
    Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Greene downs it, throws the kid his jersey, smiles, and all is right with the world.
    Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Doctors and patients have long criticized prior authorizations, saying in surveys and government oversight reports that the practice routinely delays or denies care.
    Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 6 May 2026
  • He was also sued for battery, emotional distress, and fraud in April and accused of inflicting physical, emotional, and psychological damage by 18-year-old influencer Alorah Ziva, which Peters denies.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • Footloose is also name-checked, which is technically not a horror movie but is about a small town that stubbornly refuses to change.
    Jen Chaney, Vulture, 13 May 2026
  • Hunter is stubborn, arrogant and gifted enough to play for the Briar hockey team, yet refuses to for reasons the show has yet to reveal.
    Kennedy French, Variety, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • And Republican initiatives to cut income tax rates and bolster a state credit that offsets a portion of local property tax bills also were left by the wayside.
    Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
  • But Tirtir’s formula offsets this with soothing Centella asiatica (also known as cica).
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Katie fully catches on to his selfish game, though, and firmly rejects him at last.
    David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
  • Turkey vehemently rejects the label, conceding many died in that era but insisting the death toll is inflated and the deaths resulted from civil unrest.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Negatives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negatives. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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