NEGATE Synonyms: 135 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'negate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of negate are abrogate , annul , invalidate , and nullify . While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other. // the arguments negate each other

Q: How do 'abrogate' and 'annul' relate to one another, in the sense of 'negate'?

Abrogate is like annul but more definitely implies a legal or official act. // a law to abrogate trading privileges

Q: When is it sensible to use 'annul' instead of 'negate'?

The words annul and negate can be used in similar contexts, but annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action. // the treaty annuls all previous agreements

Q: When could 'invalidate' be used to replace 'negate'?

The synonyms invalidate and negate are sometimes interchangeable, but invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness. // the court invalidated the statute

Q: When might 'nullify' be a better fit than 'negate'?

In some situations, the words nullify and negate are roughly equivalent. However, nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something. // a penalty nullified the touchdown

negate

verb

ni-ˈgāt

Definition of negate

as in to deny

to declare not to be true this evidence negates his claim that he was not at the scene of the crime

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to abolish

to put an end to by formal action Prohibition was established by the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, only to be negated by the 21st amendment 13 years later

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to discredit

to think not to be true or real you simply can't negate your feelings for someone, even if they don't feel the same way about you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb negate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of negate are abrogate, annul, invalidate, and nullify. While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other.

the arguments negate each other

How do abrogate and annul relate to one another, in the sense of negate?

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

a law to abrogate trading privileges

When is it sensible to use annul instead of negate?

The words annul and negate can be used in similar contexts, but annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action.

the treaty annuls all previous agreements

When could invalidate be used to replace negate?

The synonyms invalidate and negate are sometimes interchangeable, but invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness.

the court invalidated the statute

When might nullify be a better fit than negate?

In some situations, the words nullify and negate are roughly equivalent. However, nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something.

a penalty nullified the touchdown

Example 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 negate Crucially, this would require Apple to implement a ‘back door’ feature that would negate the encryption layer, thus introducing a potentially fatal flaw into iCloud backups. — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The school board’s radical idiocy does not negate the state’s obligation to think about the longer haul — specifically, the structurally unbalanced budgets facing Chicago Public Schools as far as the eye can see. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 Meyers turns out to be a rich kid with a fancy apartment, someone who can afford to play the artistic revolutionary—which doesn’t negate, and may indeed validate, his love for art. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026 My remedy for this was to negate every physical item on that list. — Nhi Mundy, Allure, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for negate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for negate

Verb

In the settlement agreement, the companies denied any wrongdoing.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Ted doesn’t try to deny this, then presses on anyway with a smile.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of deny

Verb

Some members sought to amend the resolution to call for reforming ICE rather than abolishing it.

— Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2026
Hong branded herself as a fighter for the working class, advocated for universal childcare and called to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

— Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of abolish

Verb

Stafford played the Bears that week, and Jones needed to find a way to discredit Stafford and elevate Caleb Williams.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
By contrast, the defense will point to the parts of the book that are provably false, in an attempt to discredit it, explained David Roger, the former Clark County, Nevada, district attorney.

— Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of discredit

Verb

The museum also refuted claims of adverse working conditions.

— Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Experts refute these claims, saying that modern vaccines actually target fewer antigens (immune-stimulating proteins) than older versions and that kids are exposed to far more antigens in their daily lives.

— Erika Edwards, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of refute

Verb

On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission voted 2-1 to repeal the cap and replace it with a new standard of review.

— Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
The 2004 law change also said the FCC cannot repeal or modify the cap during its quadrennial reviews of media rules.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of repeal

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nefarious

negate

negated

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“Negate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negate. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of negate

verb

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