double negative
noun
: a now nonstandard syntactic construction containing two negatives and having a negative meaning
"I didn't hear nothing" is a double negative
Examples of double negative in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Aaron has this way of writing where he’s got a lot of double negatives.
—
Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Spiritualists were also early adopters of novel technologies such as photography – still befuddling to their public – exploiting simple tricks such as double negatives to create phantom images.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
His use of a double negative makes the remark even more confusing.
—Tori Otten, The New Republic, 1 Aug. 2023
It’s got an odd double negative, but weak syntax is no impediment here.
—Washington Post, 23 Sep. 2021
Warren, a former high school debate champion, responds this time with a double negative.
—Michael Scherer, The Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2019
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Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Spiritualists were also early adopters of novel technologies such as photography – still befuddling to their public – exploiting simple tricks such as double negatives to create phantom images.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
His use of a double negative makes the remark even more confusing.
—Tori Otten, The New Republic, 1 Aug. 2023
It’s got an odd double negative, but weak syntax is no impediment here.
—Washington Post, 23 Sep. 2021
Warren, a former high school debate champion, responds this time with a double negative.
—Michael Scherer, The Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Double negative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double%20negative. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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