Synonym Chooser

How does the verb annul differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of annul are abrogate, invalidate, negate, and nullify. While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action.

the treaty annuls all previous agreements

How do abrogate and annul relate to one another?

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

a law to abrogate trading privileges

Where would invalidate be a reasonable alternative to annul?

While in some cases nearly identical to annul, 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 annul?

The words negate and annul can be used in similar contexts, but negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other.

the arguments negate each other

When might nullify be a better fit than annul?

While the synonyms nullify and annul are close in meaning, nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something.

a penalty nullified the touchdown

Examples Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of annul The rocky democratic landscape just seemed to get bumpier as a dramatic year careened toward its end, with mass protests in Mozambique and Georgia, an election annulled in Romania and an attempt to impose martial law in South Korea. Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024 Months after her death, the Daejeon District Court ordered the army to recognize her as a woman and annul her dismissal in a posthumous win. Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 30 Dec. 2024 In 2020, the General Court annulled the Commission's decision, holding that the Commission had not sufficiently established that those companies enjoyed a selective advantage. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024 What's New The European Union has launched an investigation into TikTok over its role in Romania's recent presidential election, annulled following allegations of Russian interference. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for annul 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for annul
Verb
  • But heroism from LaVine and Coby White (19 points, 5 assists) couldn’t offset a dreadful first half of haphazard ball handling and uninspired defense.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2025
  • The Rams can offset some of Minnesota’s defensive playmaking with top-eight sack avoidance and interception rates.
    The Athletic, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • That loophole remained open following the most recent U.S. election, which saw California voters shooting down Proposition 6, which would have abolished prison labor.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2025
  • So legislation abolishing the department (already written by GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota) would have to pass through budget reconciliation, which lets certain legislation pass with a mere majority in the Senate.
    Dylan Matthews, Vox, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • However, in a misguided attempt to correct his own errors, the real Sa-eon’s father and Kyu-jin’s husband, Paik Ui-yong (Yoo Sung-joo) forces Do-ki at gunpoint to let Sa-eon out.
    Kayti Burt, TIME, 4 Jan. 2025
  • Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions.
    New York Times, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Conflicting Promises Nonetheless, GOP lawmakers from high-tax states such as New York and California have been pushing hard to repeal or at least raise the cap.
    Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
  • During his first term, President Donald Trump tried several times to repeal the ACA but was unsuccessful.
    Fritz Farrow, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Iran's recent nuclear advances give President-elect Trump a crucial decision to make in his first months in office: Try to neutralize the threat through negotiations and pressure, or order a military strike.
    Barak Ravid, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
  • These systems are combined with kinetic counter-drone systems, which use projectiles to neutralize drones.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Pasadena Unified School District canceled classes for the remainder of the week.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Below is the working list of schools that have canceled class: The Star’s Eleanor Nash and Ilana Arougheti contributed.
    Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In 2020, Moody supported Trump by backing the Texas v. Pennsylvania lawsuit that aimed to overturn his loss in the presidential election that year.
    Julia Manchester, The Hill, 16 Jan. 2025
  • That came in response to a Supreme Court ruling last year that granted Trump sweeping protections from criminal liability over his role in trying to overturn his 2020 loss to Biden.
    Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near annul

Cite this Entry

“Annul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/annul. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on annul

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