cancel out

1. Neutralize the effect of, offset, render void. For example, Anne's kindness to her neighbor could not cancel out her irritability. The verb cancel was used in this way by itself from the late 1400s; out was added in the early 1900s.

Example Sentences

For 68 minutes, Northern Ireland had matched the European heavyweights in the World Cup qualifier and were level as Isaac Price's excellent finish from a corner cancelled out Serge Gnabry's early opener.

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"Some contracts charge large fees to leave early, which would cancel out any savings," said Emily Seymour, from Which?.

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After Texas passed a redistricting measure that would create five more congressional seats favouring Republicans, California lawmakers hit back on Thursday by voting to re-draw the state's maps - carefully made to cancel out Texas' move.

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The 25-year-old's performance helped cancel out the defensive mistakes which had undermined the Scottish Premiership side's display for an hour.

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California lawmakers are currently debating new maps that would give new advantages to Democrats in five districts, which would cancel out changes made in Texas.

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Related Words

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