negate

[ni-geyt, neg-eyt]

verb (used with object)

negated, negating 

1. to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of.

   an investigation tending to negate any supernatural influences.

2. to nullify or cause to be ineffective.

   Progress on the study has been negated by the lack of funds.

verb (used without object)

negated, negating 

1. to be negative; bring or cause negative results.

   a pessimism that always negates.

negate

/ nɪˈɡeɪt /

verb

1. to make ineffective or void; nullify; invalidate

2. to deny or contradict

Other Word Forms

• negator noun
• negater noun
• renegate verb (used with object)
• self-negating adjective
• unnegated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of negate¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin negātus “denied,” past participle of negāre “to deny, refuse,” from neg-, variant of nec “not”; neglect

Word History and Origins

Origin of negate¹

C17: from Latin negāre, from neg-, variant of nec not + aio I say

Example Sentences

“I will never believe that one negates the other and that my experience of that person, I don’t get to keep and cherish,” Watson said.

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This approach should not be confused with toxic positivity, which is when people only look for the positive while negating any negative emotions.

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“These initiatives really negate and mitigate the very pervasive idea of seeing immigrants as permanent foreigners in this country only because of their color or language,” Syed said.

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They seemed left for dead after Clayton Kershaw gave up four runs in the bottom of the first, immediately negating Freeman’s RBI line-drive single in the first.

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Her story is a rags-to-riches tale, and her offenses don’t negate the struggles of her past.

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Related Words

• annihilate 
• belie 
• cancel out 
• disallow 
• disprove 
• invalidate 
• neutralize 
• nullify 
• rebut 
• reverse 
• undo 
• vitiate 
• void