life-negating
|life-neg-a-ting|
/ˈlaɪf nɪˈɡeɪtɪŋ/
denying or destroying life/vitality
Etymology
'life-negating' originates from English, specifically the words 'life' and 'negating', where 'life' comes from Old English 'līf' meaning 'life' and 'negating' is the present participle of 'negate' meaning 'to deny'.
'life' developed from Old English 'līf' into modern English 'life'. 'Negate' comes from Latin 'negare' ('to deny'), passed into Middle English via Old French/Latin influence as forms such as 'negaten' and eventually became modern English 'negate'; combining them as a compound adjective produced 'life-negating'.
Initially, 'negare' meant 'to deny' in Latin; over time 'negate' acquired senses like 'make ineffective' or 'deny the value of', and the compound 'life-negating' came to mean specifically denying or destroying life/vitality.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
rejecting, denying, or hostile to life; destructive of vitality or the value of living.
The dictator's policies were openly life-negating, crushing artistic and personal freedoms.
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Adjective 2
causing loss of vitality or growth; stifling or demoralizing (often used about systems, institutions, or attitudes).
Bureaucratic red tape can create a life-negating environment for small businesses.
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Adjective 3
characterized by nihilistic or pessimistic attitudes that devalue living or human flourishing.
Some critics accused the play of promoting a life-negating worldview.
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Last updated: 2025/11/02 15:01