ANNUL Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'annul' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of annul are abrogate , invalidate , negate , and nullify . While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action. // the treaty annuls all previous agreements

Q: How do 'abrogate' and 'annul' relate to one another?

Abrogate is like annul but more definitely implies a legal or official act. // a law to abrogate trading privileges

Q: Where would 'invalidate' be a reasonable alternative to 'annul'?

While in some cases nearly identical to annul , invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness. // the court invalidated the statute

Q: When is it sensible to use 'negate' instead of 'annul'?

The words negate and annul can be used in similar contexts, but negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other. // the arguments negate each other

Q: When might 'nullify' be a better fit than 'annul'?

While the synonyms nullify and annul are close in meaning, nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something. // a penalty nullified the touchdown

annul

verb

ə-ˈnəl

Definition of annul next

as in to offset

to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective unfortunately, his arrogant attitude annuls the many generous favors he does for people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to abolish

to put an end to by formal action plans to annul their short-lived, ill-advised marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb annul differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of annul are abrogate, invalidate, negate, and nullify. While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action.

the treaty annuls all previous agreements

How do abrogate and annul relate to one another?

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

a law to abrogate trading privileges

Where would invalidate be a reasonable alternative to annul?

While in some cases nearly identical to annul, 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 annul?

The words negate and annul can be used in similar contexts, but negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other.

the arguments negate each other

When might nullify be a better fit than annul?

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

a penalty nullified the touchdown

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 annul On Friday, the court postponed a decision until Monday on whether to annul the vote. —

Stephen McGrath, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024 The rocky democratic landscape just seemed to get bumpier as a dramatic year careened toward its end, with mass protests in Mozambique and Georgia, an election annulled in Romania and an attempt to impose martial law in South Korea. —

Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024 Months after her death, the Daejeon District Court ordered the army to recognize her as a woman and annul her dismissal in a posthumous win. —

Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 30 Dec. 2024 In 2020, the General Court annulled the Commission's decision, holding that the Commission had not sufficiently established that those companies enjoyed a selective advantage. —

Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for annul

Recent Examples of Synonyms for annul

Verb

These funds, along with government subsidies, helped offset premiums for millions of Americans, driving the enrollment gains seen in recent years.

— Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Large pharma companies are also bracing for upcoming drug patent expirations that could wipe out $300 billion in revenues by 2028, putting more pressure on them to offset losses with new products.

— Annika Kim Constantino,Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025