Standard Lemma guide

negate

verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /nɪˈɡeɪt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪt
  • CMU ARPABET: N IH0 G EY1 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The investigation tending to negate any supernatural influences.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To nullify or cause to be ineffective.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Progress on the study has been negated by the lack of funds.
  • Persecution can be negated through exposure.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To be negative; bring or cause negative results.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • a pessimism that always negates

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To perform the NOT operation on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Her optimism neutralizes his gloom
  • This action will negate the effect of my efforts

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: neutralize, neutralise, nullify

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: weaken

6

verb

Meaning 6

prove negative; show to be false

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: contradict

Antonyms: affirm

Broader terms: prove, demonstrate, establish, show, shew

Narrower terms: invalidate, nullify, disprove, confute

7

verb

Meaning 7

deny the truth of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: contradict, contravene

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: disagree, differ, dissent, take issue

Narrower terms: deny

8

verb

Meaning 8

be in contradiction with

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: contradict, belie

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: deviate, vary, diverge, depart

History

Etymology

From Latin negātus, perfect passive participle of negō (“to deny, refuse, decline”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Across languages

Translations

32 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: رَفَضَ (rafaḍa) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Belarusian: адмаўля́ць (admawljácʹ) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Bulgarian: отричам (otričam) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Bulgarian: отхвърлям (othvǎrljam) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Chinese Mandarin: 否定 (fǒudìng) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Czech: negovat — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Danish: negere — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Danish: ophæve — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Dutch: ontkennen — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Finnish: kieltää — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Finnish: kiistää — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Finnish: kumota — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Finnish: mitätöidä — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Finnish: negatoida — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • French: nier — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • German: negieren — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • German: verneinen — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Japanese: 否定する (hitei suru) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Korean: 부정하다 (bujeonghada) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Macedonian: о́дрече (ódreče) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Macedonian: неги́ра (negíra) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Polish: negować — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Polish: zaprzeczać — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Polish: zanegować — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Polish: zaprzeczyć — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Russian: отрица́ть (otricátʹ) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Russian: отверга́ть (otvergátʹ) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Russian: отве́ргнуть (otvérgnutʹ) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Slovak: negovať — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Spanish: negar — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Swedish: negera — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict
  • Ukrainian: запере́чувати (zaperéčuvaty) — to deny the existence, evidence, or truth of; to contradict