negate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of.
an investigation tending to negate any supernatural influences.
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to nullify or cause to be ineffective.
Progress on the study has been negated by the lack of funds.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to make ineffective or void; nullify; invalidate
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to deny or contradict
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing negate
100 SAT Words Beginning with "N"
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Speech and Debate
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Warm-up, List 2
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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.
I have been disturbed to see how seriously many of my patients have taken the panic around microplastics and fertility to heart, as if using wooden cutting boards will negate age-related infertility, for example.
From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026
Airlines covered by a United Nations carbon-offsetting program for aviation have less than two years to negate their emissions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026
"I wonder if there's something wired in us where we go, ‘let's find the problem, let's find a threat and then we'll negate the threat’."
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026
He mixed in more sweepers than usual, too, trying to negate the Blue Jays’ potent lineup with a steady dose of spin.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2025
This was done to negate the power of organization and to neutralize our collective strength.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
