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Definition of nullifynext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb nullify differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of nullify are abrogate, annul, invalidate, and negate. While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something.

a penalty nullified the touchdown

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

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

a law to abrogate trading privileges

When could annul be used to replace nullify?

The words annul and nullify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action.

the treaty annuls all previous agreements

Where would invalidate be a reasonable alternative to nullify?

While in some cases nearly identical to nullify, invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness.

the court invalidated the statute

When is it sensible to use negate instead of nullify?

The synonyms negate and nullify are sometimes interchangeable, but negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other.

the arguments negate each other

Example 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 nullify This is because climate change and ecological collapse are very likely to cause political fragmentation that nullifies legal and cultural precedents like abolition, and bring about agrarian and manufacturing crises and scarcities in which people are forced into labor. Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025 The bill would also nullify portions of a 2025 federal regulation that loosened limits on the actuarial value of exchange plans and altered how subsidies are calculated, effectively reshaping how generous plans can be and how federal support is determined. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2025 McTavish’s tally was nullified, however, by an offside challenge by André Tourigny. Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025 The 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty nullified the gain and pushed Chicago back on the drive — though Moore later delivered a 25-yard touchdown on the same possession. Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nullify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nullify
Verb
  • The FairTax Act of 2025 was the latest bid to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and replace income tax and other levies with a national sales tax.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Jan. 2026
  • During his campaign, Mamdani pledged to keep the NYPD’s headcount flat, abolish the department’s controversial Strategic Response Group and get rid of its gang database — all proposals opposed by Tisch, who supports hiring more cops.
    Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • In 2020, voters repealed the Gallagher Amendment in the state constitution, which locked in a certain ratio of residential to commercial property taxes that provided extra security for homeowners against sudden increases.
    Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
  • But a further threat to its revenue comes by way of a possible ballot measure to repeal the trash pickup fee assessed last year on single-family homes that is being considered by the conservative-leaning Lincoln Club and others.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • That band faces a similar situation as Mariachi Joya Azteca, with at least two major events canceled in 2025.
    Juan Cordoba, Arkansas Online, 12 Jan. 2026
  • The Anker 737 Power Bank keeps multiple devices running and charging, from your phone to your noise-canceling headphones, without weighing down your bag.
    Claire Gallam, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Lawyers also argued the conviction should be overturned because the verdict was tainted by the media attention and due to faulty instructions to the jury.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
  • In 2005, Yates’ conviction was overturned by the Texas Court of Appeals.
    Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The plaintiffs wanted Huddleston to invalidate the referendum and direct the council to arrange a new vote on a budget without the $4 million at question.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Should Trump’s tariff policy be invalidated, the fiscal consequences for the country could be severe.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • To avoid this dilemma, my aunt always travels with a portable power bank like this slim option from Anker.
    Stephanie Gray, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Learn how to properly thaw frozen pipes, and how to avoid them in the first place.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Nullify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nullify. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on nullify

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