negate

verb

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

transitive verb

1
: to deny the existence or truth of
… negated and denied her own honest reactions …—Sara H. Hay
2
: to cause to be ineffective or invalid
Alcohol can negate the effects of some medicines.
negate noun
negator
ni-ˈgā-tər How to pronounce negate (audio)
noun

Synonyms of negate

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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.
In its bleakest moments, the novel suggests that the ordeal of being gay in a venomously bigoted society negates its bounty. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Keys negates the need to have a desktop keyboard alongside a separate MIDI controller on your desk. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026 Seminole has a 32-yard interception return for a TD negated due to a holding penalty. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 Last week in Cincinnati included a few hiccups, but those don’t negate the progress. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for negate

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Browse Nearby Words

negara
negate
negation
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Cite this Entry

“Negate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/negate. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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