negate

verb

ne·​gate ni-ˈgāt How to pronounce negate (audio)
negated; negating

transitive verb

1
: to deny the existence or truth of
negated and denied her own honest reactionsSara H. Hay
2
: to cause to be ineffective or invalid
Alcohol can negate the effects of some medicines.
negate noun
negator 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

Examples of negate in a Sentence

The fact that she lied about her work experience negated the contract. a verb that is negated by “not”
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Mountain West also planned to make its case in court to dismiss the Pac-12’s lawsuit seeking to negate $55 million owed in poaching fees. Chris Vannini, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 The numbers are part of a broader shift that saw pedestrian deaths decline statewide, but city officials say that doesn't negate the need for continued investment in safer policies and infrastructure. Christine Clarridge, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025 But, in the future, proponents say the technology may negate the need for heart transplants entirely. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2025 In the 40th minute, San Diego’s Paddy McNair delivered the first home goal in club history … only to watch the first crushing offside call of the season negate the score. Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for negate

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Negate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/negate. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

negate

verb
ne·​gate ni-ˈgāt How to pronounce negate (audio)
negated; negating
1
: to deny the existence or truth of
2
: to cause to be ineffective or invalid
the discovery negates all previous theories

More from Merriam-Webster on negate

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