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

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

Two weeks later, higher gasoline and energy prices stemming from the conflict could cancel out the effects of those higher refunds, economists say.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 14, 2026

It recognized that improvement through treatment should not cancel out evidence of injury.

From Slate • Feb. 19, 2026

This would cause many of the possible infinities to cancel out, but it was suspected that some infinities might still remain.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

Related Words

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