invalidate

verb

in·val·i·date (ˌ)in-ˈva-lə-ˌdāt

invalidated; invalidating; invalidates

transitive verb

: to make invalid

especially : to weaken or destroy the cogency of

invalidation

(ˌ)in-ˌva-lə-ˈdā-shən

noun

invalidator

in-ˈva-lə-ˌdā-tər

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for invalidate

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

Example Sentences

actions that will invalidate the contract The study invalidates earlier theories. factors that may invalidate the test results

Recent Examples on the Web The court also denied Meta’s attempt to invalidate Washington’s decades-old transparency law, according to Attorney General Bob Ferguson, whose office has repeatedly sued Meta over its failure to abide by the law.

Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 3 Sep. 2022 The Michigan proposal is an attempt to invalidate a 1931 law that would ban nearly all abortions in the state.

Laura Kusisto, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 Attorney General Brian Frosh, D, predicts the state police will be inundated with new applications to carry firearms if the justices invalidate New York’s law.

Ann E. Marimow And Shayna Jacobs, Anchorage Daily News, 19 June 2022 The Philadelphia Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police has since filed a lawsuit to invalidate the law, with union leaders describing the changes as irresponsible.

Fox News, 2 June 2022 Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky asked the Supreme Court in a brief to use the Cruz case to invalidate the entire law.

John Fritze, USA TODAY, 16 May 2022 The Justice Department has sued in federal court to invalidate the law, but in the meantime, state residents—and their employers—are caught in the crossfire.

Megan Leonhardt, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2021 Raffensperger said Graham suggested that the state could discard or invalidate large numbers of mail-in ballots from certain areas.

David G. Savagestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2022 Originally from Taneytown, William is well-known on TikTok for being a men’s eating disorder recovery advocate, using his platform to encourage people to recognize their problems and to never invalidate their struggles at the same time.

Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 20 Oct. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'invalidate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.