Synonyms of nullify

nullify

verb

ˈnə-lə-ˌfī 

as in to abolish

to put an end to by formal action

the constitutional amendment that nullified Prohibition

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb nullify differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of nullify are abrogate, annul, invalidate, and negate. While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something.

a penalty nullified the touchdown

How are the words abrogate and annul related as synonyms of nullify?

Abrogate is like annul but more definitely implies a legal or official act.

a law to abrogate trading privileges

When could annul be used to replace nullify?

The words annul and nullify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action.

the treaty annuls all previous agreements

Where would invalidate be a reasonable alternative to nullify?

While in some cases nearly identical to nullify, invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness.

the court invalidated the statute

When is it sensible to use negate instead of nullify?

The synonyms negate and nullify are sometimes interchangeable, but negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other.

the arguments negate each other

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of nullify

If the Legislature didn't review the policy, then it was nullified. — CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026

His appellate legal team has been aggressively searching for any and every legal avenue that would overturn the judge’s sentence, nullify the jury’s guilty verdict, or even discredit the very criminal law that Combs was prosecuted under. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

At the same time, competing ballot measures that would nullify Prop 40 also have majority support. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026

Proposition 41, which is pitched as a government transparency measure requiring auditor approval for new tax proposals but would nullify the billionaire tax, carried 51% of voters in the poll, against 44% no and 5% undecided. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026