refute
UK /ɹɪˈfjuːt/ · US /ɹɪˈfjut/ verb
Forms refutes refuting refuted refutest refutedst refuteth
- verb (transitive) To prove (something) to be false or incorrect.
- verb (transitive, proscribed) To deny the truth or correctness of (something); to reject or disagree with an accusation.
Synonyms
debunk disprove rebut confound dispute deny repudiate gainsay counterargue reject controvert
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin refūtō (“refute, repudiate”).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To disprove and overthrow by argument, evidence, or countervailing proof; to prove to be false or erroneous; to confute; as, to refute arguments; to refute testimony; to refute opinions or theories; to refute a disputant.
Etymology [F. réfuter, L. refuteare to repel, refute. Cf. Confute, Refuse to deny.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “refute”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details