cancel out

Idioms  

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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cancel out

VIX would have to close above 19 for two consecutive days to cancel out this buy signal.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

Research looking at how to protect the future of England's largest lake showed potential to "fully cancel out" the projected impact of climate change on it.

From BBC ● May 20, 2026

These repeated interactions can either build up or cancel out rotation.

From Science Daily ● May 7, 2026

Any amount you convert is subject to income-tax rates of up to 37%—but the senior deduction can help cancel out that tax, Adams says.

From Barron's ● Apr. 25, 2026

Even the music of a flamenco band did not overpower or even cancel out the clamor and tumult that spilled out of the room.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

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