Synonyms

negate

American

[ni-geyt, neg-eyt] / nɪˈgeɪt, ˈnɛg eɪt /

verb (used with object)

to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of.

an investigation tending to negate any supernatural influences.
to nullify or cause to be ineffective.

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

verb (used without object)

to be negative; bring or cause negative results.

a pessimism that always negates.

negate British

/ nɪˈɡeɪt /

verb

to make ineffective or void; nullify; invalidate
to deny or contradict

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Etymology

Origin of negate

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

Explanation

If something neutralizes the effect of something else, then you can say the effect is negated. Hanging a disco ball from your living room ceiling negates the sleek modern effect created by the contemporary furniture. If something is proved false or untrue, it has been negated. The discovery of one dinosaur jaw negated the conventional wisdom that all dinosaurs were vegetarians, since the tooth structure proved that guy definitely ate meat. The verb negate can also mean to counteract or counterbalance — so a really strong serve can negate your other weaknesses on the tennis court.

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Vocabulary lists containing negate

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

negate negates negated negating

"And a plan was put together to negate the threat from whatever intelligence was received."

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

But it’s not an impossible situation, nor does it negate spending on the yard.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

But San Diego’s flaws don’t negate the Dodgers’ as they burned through six relievers in their win.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026

It was like the public exhibition of a painting, the public performance of a play, or the playing of a song in public—all actions that don’t negate copyright protection.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026

When an author has to negate something that a reader doesn’t already believe, she has to set it up as a plausible belief on his mental stage before she knocks it down.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Not only does this grant Bonta VIP access to the moral highground, it all but negates Ellison’s recent New York Times guest essay.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

“He literally negates people from even shooting the ball,” marveled San Antonio point guard De’Aaron Fox.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026

This month Dell is breaking above a double bottom with handle pivot of $168.08, which also negates a bearish engulfing candle from November.

From Barron's ● Apr. 20, 2026

Missing a payment, even by a few days, can trigger a late fee that negates the benefit of the interest-free structure.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 21, 2025

Pushing the not next to the phrase it negates eliminates the scope ambiguity.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Rushing’s and Ward’s home runs were quickly negated when Adell hit a two-run homer to left-center field.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026

The breakout also negated a bearish evening star, marked by a doji candle on March 26.

From Barron's ● Apr. 20, 2026

“But further attacks on vessels and warnings that the Strait of Hormuz would effectively remain closed negated any positive impact,” she said.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 13, 2026

The penalty negated the touchdown, marking the second game-winning touchdown that was chalked off for offensive pass interference, and the game was over.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025

It’s not that ain’t is used as a standard contraction for negated forms of be, have, and do; no writer is that oblivious.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Car buyers used to be able to travel to a factory and pick up a vehicle directly from a manufacturer, negating the shipping costs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 2, 2026

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

From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2025

But its Feb. 23 show will air after Oscar voting has ended, negating the impact of any speeches and celebratory moments.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 9, 2025

Rather than directly address vehicle size, they tout emergent technologies, like pedestrian automatic emergency braking, that can theoretically avoid crashes entirely, negating the risk that hulking vehicles present in a collision.

From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2024

I apologize for the double negative, but it’s a real double negative of a situation, a bind from which negating the negation is truly the only escape.

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023