negate

verb

ne·gate ni-ˈgāt

negated; negating

transitive verb

: to deny the existence or truth of

negated and denied her own honest reactions

Sara H. Hay

: to cause to be ineffective or invalid

Alcohol can negate the effects of some medicines.

negate noun

negator

ni-ˈgā-tər

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for negate

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

The fact that she lied about her work experience negated the contract. a verb that is negated by “not”

Recent Examples on the Web To bolster a team built of so many unique talents, Hardy asks each simply to play to their strengths, negate their weaknesses, and make the correct decision.

The Salt Lake Tribune, 23 Nov. 2022 While Amendment 772 was intended to provide uniformity and negate the need for local economic development amendments, there has been uncertainty about its application.

Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 4 Nov. 2022 And overlooking just one small detail (e.g., setting up identical trusts for each spouse which violates the reciprocal trust doctrine) can negate the tax benefit.

Chuck Bean, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2022 Motions Troyer later made to negate the public safety director salary, and also to lower the maximum for the administrative services commissioner position, were voted down.

Beth Mlady, cleveland, 4 Mar. 2022 The $286 million project will divert lake water and negate the use of deep aquifer wells where the radium problem is rooted.

Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 12 Nov. 2022 George said Spencer’s crimes were horrible but should not negate a chance for parole for others.

Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 4 Nov. 2022 Products requiring additional surface finishes may also see additional processing time, which could negate some of the time saved with AM.

Donovan Weber, Forbes, 17 June 2021 Surely, when Boger threw that flag with the Buccaneers leading 21-15 inside of the final four minutes to negate a Falcons sack and a Falcons interception that followed, all of the Tagovailoa stuff was ratting around Boger’s head.

Terence Moore, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2022 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin negātus, past participle of negāre "to say (with the negative of a conjoined clause), deny, withhold, say no," delocutive derivative of nec "no, not" — more at neglect entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of negate was circa 1623

See more words from the same year