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

Synonyms

• abate
• abolish
• abrogate
• annul
• avoid
• cancel
• disannul
• dissolve
• negate
• null
• nullify
• quash
• repeal
• rescind
• roll back
• strike down
• vacate
• void

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

Examples of invalidate in a Sentence

actions that will invalidate the contract

The study invalidates earlier theories.

factors that may invalidate the test results

Recent Examples on the Web

But in a surprising decision in 2023, the high court declined an invitation to reshape Section 2 of the landmark voting law and invalidated Alabama's congressional map drawn by Republican lawmakers after the 2020 Census. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2025

Omitting such differences, however, can sometimes be decisive in invalidating the final evaluation, which can lead to systematic distortions in reasoning, influencing the resulting judgments and decisions. —Cristian Randieri, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025

He was sentenced to death, but that was commuted to life in prison after California’s Supreme Court invalidated all death sentences prior to 1972. —Emily Krauser, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025

Friday's notice may invalidate that legal argument, though the case has other arguments to stand on, said Daniel Graham, a partner at McDermott Will & Emery and leader of their government contracts group. —Maya Goldman, Axios, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for invalidate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

invalidate

verb

in·​val·​i·​date (ˈ)in-ˈval-ə-ˌdāt 

: to weaken or destroy the effect of

evidence invalidating their claim

invalidation

(ˌ)in-ˌval-ə-ˈdā-shən 

noun

Legal Definition

invalidate

transitive verb

in·​val·​i·​date in-ˈva-lə-ˌdāt 

: to make or declare invalid

invalidation

in-ˌva-lə-ˈdā-shən 

noun