Synonyms

negate

American

[ni-gayt, neg-ayt] / 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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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

Mourning Israeli civilians, she argued, did not negate the suffering of Palestinians or diminish the struggle against Israel’s government.

From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026

If you dislike or even detest this film, I don’t seek to negate your feelings.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026

Though Fort Valley State is a backup option for her, the acceptance helped negate some self-doubt.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

If he does that, the extra bounce he will get as a result should negate the loss of movement.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

“Tell him he’s wrong. War doesn’t negate decency. It demands it, even more than in times of peace.”

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

President Emmanuel Macron greeted the pope at the Élysée Palace by saying that French laïcité “in no way negates religion.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

But to say that no filmmakers are working in mainstream, high-flying, big-budget action with real artistic value negates the principle of filmmaking as an art form.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

Here’s a problem with “What if?” — it negates “What now?”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 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

On the flip side, when a teammate’s holding penalty negated a 20-yard run, the big man was sympathetic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

Years before “Barbie” stormed movie houses, Elle was the subversive answer to whether a woman’s love of makeup, pastel colors, skirts and heels negated her feminism.

From Salon ● Jul. 6, 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.”

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 13, 2026

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

But officials tried to sign the agreement at a phase in the design process when the contractor couldn’t estimate key costs, negating the benefits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 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

Since that filing, four of their children have become adults, negating the need for a custody agreement for them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2024

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

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