negate

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitiveformal

   To cancel out the effect or value of something, so that it counts for nothing.

   Grammar: Takes an object, usually an abstract noun: negate the benefits.

   Patterns

   • negate something
   • something negates something

   One careless mistake can negate hours of careful work.

   The new tax may negate the savings from the lower price.

   Heavy traffic negated the advantage of leaving early.

2. 2verbtransitiveformal

   To say or show that something is not true or does not exist.

   Grammar: Takes an object: negate a claim.

   Patterns

   • negate a claim
   • negate the existence of something

   The new evidence negates the witness's earlier account.

   Some philosophers try to negate the very idea of free will.

   The results negate the theory that the drug works quickly.

3. 3verbtransitivetechnical

   To make a statement or logical expression its opposite by adding a negative or reversing its truth value.

   Grammar: Used in grammar and logic: negate the sentence.

   Patterns

   • negate a statement

   To negate the sentence, add 'not' after the auxiliary verb.

   In logic, to negate a true statement makes it false.

   The programmer used an operator to negate the Boolean value.

Word forms

Common combinations

negate the effect

Heavy rain negated the effect of the fertilizer.

negate the benefits

High fees negate the benefits of the account.

negate an argument

One counterexample is enough to negate the argument.

completely negate

The delay completely negated our progress.

in effect negate

The amendment in effect negates the original rule.

Synonyms and how they differ

cancel out

Cancel out is more everyday and suits two things balancing each other, while negate sounds more formal and abstract.

nullify

Nullify is often used for making something legally void, whereas negate can simply mean erasing an effect.

deny

Deny means to declare something untrue, while negate can also mean to undo its effect.

invalidate

Invalidate focuses on making something no longer valid or acceptable, a narrower idea than negate.

Opposites

Word family

negation noun

the act of negating, or the opposite of something

negative adjective

expressing denial or harm

negator noun

a word or operator that negates

negatable adjective

able to be negated

Commonly confused: negate or negotiate?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “negate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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