diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index efb2ed9..856e4d5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ Rule | Meaning
 `components/*/utils` | ✅&nbsp;&nbsp;The directory `components` is accepted.<br/> ✅&nbsp;&nbsp;Any *first level* nested directory is accepted.<br/> ✅&nbsp;&nbsp;The *second level* nested directory `utils` is accepted.<br/> ❌&nbsp;&nbsp;Any other *second level* nested directory is not accepted.
 `legacy/**` | ✅&nbsp;&nbsp;The directory `legacy` is accepted.<br/> ✅&nbsp;&nbsp;Any nested directory on *any level* is accepted.
 `components/*/legacy/**` | ✅&nbsp;&nbsp;The directory `components` is accepted.<br/> ✅&nbsp;&nbsp;Any *first level* nested directory is accepted.<br/> ✅&nbsp;&nbsp;The *second level* nested directory `legacy` is accepted.<br/> ❌&nbsp;&nbsp;Any other *second level* nested directory is not accepted.<br/> ✅&nbsp;&nbsp;Any nested directory on *any level* inside of *legacy* directory is accepted.
+`!pages/*` | ❌&nbsp;&nbsp;Any nested directory inside `pages` is not accepted.
 
 ⚠️ A rule like `components/*/utils` automatically make the `components` and `components/*` rules work. So, no need to specify a rule for every level directory. You need to specify the deepest path.
 
diff --git a/__tests__/runLinter.js b/__tests__/runLinter.js
index 9f7d448..fa4f055 100644
--- a/__tests__/runLinter.js
+++ b/__tests__/runLinter.js
@@ -196,3 +196,20 @@ test('should not accept files with * and ** in the same rule', () => {
     'folderslint: 2 error(s) found'
   )
 })
+
+test('should not accept files with ! (negation) in the beginning of the rule ', () => {
+  parseConfig.mockReturnValue({
+    root: 'src',
+    rules: ['!pages/*'],
+  })
+
+  runLinter(['cwd/src/pages/components'])
+
+  expect(process.exit).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(1)
+
+  expect(console.log).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+    1,
+    chalk.underline('cwd/src/pages/components')
+  )
+  expect(console.log).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, ERROR_MESSAGE)
+})
diff --git a/src/parseConfig.js b/src/parseConfig.js
index 660bbc3..7a5790e 100644
--- a/src/parseConfig.js
+++ b/src/parseConfig.js
@@ -19,6 +19,16 @@ const validateParsedConfig = (config) => {
       console.error('A rule can have ** only at the end')
       process.exit(1)
     }
+
+    if (
+      rule.includes('!') &&
+      rule.startsWith('!') &&
+      rule.split('!').length > 2
+    ) {
+      console.error(`Invalid rule: ${rule}`)
+      console.error('A rule can have at most one ! at the beginning')
+      process.exit(1)
+    }
   })
   return config
 }
diff --git a/src/rules.js b/src/rules.js
index 06ce788..0975264 100644
--- a/src/rules.js
+++ b/src/rules.js
@@ -29,7 +29,9 @@ const getExtendedRules = (root = '', rules) => {
 
 const isPathMatchRule = (path, rule) => {
   const splittedPath = path.split('/')
-  const splittedRule = rule.split('/')
+
+  const isNegation = rule.startsWith('!')
+  const splittedRule = (isNegation ? rule.substring(1) : rule).split('/')
 
   const isValid = splittedPath.reduce((acc, pathPart, i) => {
     const rulePart = splittedRule[i]
@@ -41,14 +43,14 @@ const isPathMatchRule = (path, rule) => {
   }, true)
 
   if (!isValid) {
-    return false
+    return isNegation
   }
 
   if (!rule.includes('**') && splittedPath.length > splittedRule.length) {
-    return false
+    return isNegation
   }
 
-  return true
+  return !isNegation
 }
 
 const checkPath = (path, rules) => {