REFUTE

refute, rebut, controvert

(verb) prove to be false or incorrect

refute, rebut

(verb) overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof; “The speaker refuted his opponent’s arguments”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

refute (third-person singular simple present refutes, present participle refuting, simple past and past participle refuted)

(transitive) To prove (something) to be false or incorrect.

(transitive, proscribed) To deny the truth or correctness of (something).

Usage notes

The second meaning of refute (“to deny the truth of”) is proscribed as erroneous by some (compare Merriam Webster,1994). An alternative term with such a meaning is repudiate, which means to reject or refuse to acknowledge, but without the implication of justification. However, this distinction does not exist in the original Latin refūtō (“oppose, resist, rebut”), which can apply to both senses.

Synonyms

• (prove (something) to be false): debunk, disprove, rebut

• (deny the truth or correctness): deny, gainsay, rebut, reject, repudiate

Antonyms

• (prove (something) to be false): demonstrate, prove

• (deny the truth or correctness): accept, embrace

Anagrams

• Fuerte, feuter, feutre

Source: Wiktionary

Re*fute" (r*F3t"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Refuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Refuting.] Etym: [F. réfuter, L. refuteare to repel, refute. Cf. Confute, Refuse to deny.]

Definition: 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. There were so many witnesses in these two miracles that it is impossible to refute such multitudes. Addison.

Syn.

– To confute; disprove. See Confute.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition