Synonym Chooser

How does the verb invalidate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of invalidate are abrogate, annul, negate, and nullify. While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness.

the court invalidated the statute

How are the words abrogate and annul related as synonyms of invalidate?

Abrogate is like annul but more definitely implies a legal or official act.

a law to abrogate trading privileges

When is annul a more appropriate choice than invalidate?

The meanings of annul and invalidate largely overlap; however, annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action.

the treaty annuls all previous agreements

When could negate be used to replace invalidate?

Although the words negate and invalidate have much in common, negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other.

the arguments negate each other

When can nullify be used instead of invalidate?

While the synonyms nullify and invalidate are close in meaning, nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something.

a penalty nullified the touchdown

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of invalidate Democrats want to steal the election and invalidate the will of the American people. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025 The National Assembly successfully voted to invalidate martial law. Se Eun Gong, NPR, 11 Dec. 2024 The court is set to hear oral arguments Jan. 10 regarding the company’s bid to invalidate the ban. Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Jan. 2025 But even before the agency released the report, House Republicans urged the administration to invalidate it. Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 3 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for invalidate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invalidate
Verb
  • About a quarter century after slavery was abolished in Puerto Rico (1873), another Afro-Puerto Rican genre emerged known as the plena.
    Vanessa Diaz, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2025
  • Trump said in December that the debt ceiling should be abolished, a position shared by some liberal lawmakers.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Among Monday’s moves, Trump rescinded one of the defining moments from the early days of President Joe Biden’s term: repealing the ban on open trans military service (a policy that Trump initially unveiled during a July 2017 tweetstorm).
    Nico Lang, Them, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Lawmakers have steadily eliminated interest subsidies during the last two decades, and this would be one of the last major subsidies to repeal.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • SpaceX is developing the Starship system, which could provide a reusable alternative, but moves to cancel SLS — which has been criticized over unsustainable costs and numerous delays and quality control on the part of lead contractor Boeing — will likely face resistance.
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2025
  • His input as captain goes into the decision to cancel morning skates, to cancel practices.
    Arpon Basu, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In 2020, Moody supported Trump by backing the Texas v. Pennsylvania lawsuit that aimed to overturn his loss in the presidential election that year.
    Julia Manchester, The Hill, 16 Jan. 2025
  • That came in response to a Supreme Court ruling last year that granted Trump sweeping protections from criminal liability over his role in trying to overturn his 2020 loss to Biden.
    Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Trump also nullified Biden’s decision to eliminate a list of sanctioned Cuban military companies and hotels.
    Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The score was nullified by a holding penalty on Humphrey.
    Nate Taylor, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Also, avoid flying on Sundays and Mondays, which tend to be the most expensive due to weekend trips and business travelers, according to 2024 data from flight app Hopper.
    Amelia Edelman, NPR, 25 Jan. 2025
  • And no one still with this organization will avoid the sting of Rantanen’s being traded.
    Arthur Staple, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near invalidate

Cite this Entry

“Invalidate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invalidate. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on invalidate

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