What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
invalidate
Example
The new evidence presented in court invalidated the previous testimony. [invalidate: verb]
Example
The error in the calculation invalidated the entire experiment. [invalidated: past tense]
negate
Example
The positive effects of the medicine were negated by the negative side effects. [negated: past tense]
Example
The evidence presented in court negated the defendant's alibi. [negate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Negate is more commonly used than invalidate in everyday language. Negate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while invalidate is less common and tends to be used in more specific contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between invalidate and negate?
Both invalidate and negate can be used in formal and informal contexts, but invalidate is more commonly used in legal or technical writing, while negate is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels.