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

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

The SBTi said companies also can use power-purchase agreements—long-term contracts that generate new renewable-electricity supply—to negate their emissions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

As it happens, Hamilton and Ferrari managed to find a way to negate his penalty around the safety-car period.

From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026

You negate yourself in order to make it past the finish line.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan

"Will advertisers in the hydration break be met with enough discontent that it negates the value of the advertising?" says T. Bettina Cornwell, head of marketing at the University of Oregon.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 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

A darker January PCE pretty much negates a more positive report on the consumer-price index in February.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 13, 2026

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

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

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

The former president appeared on his wife’s podcast, “IMO,” and immediately negated talk of a potential split.

From Salon ● Jul. 16, 2025

But in the largeness of the country shown on the map, the massive forest the map showed, the river was a small thing, and he had negated it.

From "The River" by Gary Paulsen

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