refute
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Related to refuted: confutation
re·fute
(rĭ-fyo͞ot′)tr.v. re·fut·ed, re·fut·ing, re·futes
1. To prove to be false or erroneous; overthrow by argument or proof: refute testimony.
2. To deny the accuracy or truth of: refuted the results of the poll.
3. Usage Problem To repudiate.
re·fut′a·bil′i·ty (rĭ-fyo͞o′tə-bĭl′ĭ-tē, rĕf′yə-tə-) n.
re·fut′a·ble (rĭ-fyo͞o′tə-bəl, rĕf′yə-tə-) adj.
re·fut′a·bly adv.
re·fut′er n.
Usage Note: Traditionally, the verb refute has two meanings. The first is "to prove to be false or erroneous," as in Charges of institutional bias against women were refuted by an analysis of the employment data. In this example, it is clear that an argument was mustered to demonstrate the falsity of the charges. This usage is well established as standard. The second meaning is "to deny the accuracy of," and in this use there is no mention or implication of mustering evidence or detailed reasoning. Rather, the refutation exists as a simple statement or claim. This second use has been criticized as incorrect or inappropriate since the early 1900s, despite being common. A majority of the Usage Panel accepts the use as a synonym of deny, but not by a wide margin. In our 2002 survey, 62 percent accepted the example In the press conference, the senator categorically refuted the charges of malfeasance but declined to go into details. This suggests that many readers are uncomfortable with this usage and would prefer to see deny in these contexts. Beyond these two meanings, refute is sometimes used to mean "to deny the validity of, repudiate," as in Observers are expecting the appeals court to refute the Microsoft breakup. The Panel has scant affection for this usage. Some 89 percent rejected the example just quoted in the 2002 survey.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
refute
(rɪˈfjuːt)vb
1. (tr) to prove (a statement, theory, charge, etc) of (a person) to be false or incorrect; disprove
2. to deny (a claim, charge, allegation, etc)
[C16: from Latin refūtāre to rebut]
refutable adj
refutability n
ˈrefutably adv
reˈfuter n
Usage: The use of refute to mean deny is thought by many people to be incorrect
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
re•fute
(rɪˈfyut)v.t. -fut•ed, -fut•ing.
1. to prove to be false or erroneous, as an opinion or charge.
2. to prove (a person) to be in error.
[1505–15; < Latin refūtāre to check, suppress, refute, rebut =re- re- + -fūtāre presumably, “to beat” (attested only with the prefixes con- and re-; compare confute)]
re•fut•a•ble (rɪˈfyu tə bəl, ˈrɛf yə tə-) adj.
re•fut`a•bil′i•ty, n.
re•fut′a•bly, adv.
re•fut′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
See also related terms for prove.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
refute
Past participle: refuted
Gerund: refuting
| Imperative |
|---|
| refute |
| refute |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | refute - overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof; "The speaker refuted his opponent's arguments" repudiate, disown, renounce - cast off; "She renounced her husband"; "The parents repudiated their son" answer - give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument); "The defendant answered to all the charges of the prosecution" |
| 2. | refute - prove to be false or incorrect |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
refute
verb disprove, counter, discredit, prove false, silence, overthrow, negate, rebut, give the lie to, blow out of the water (slang), confute It was the kind of rumour that is impossible to refute.
prove, confirm, substantiate
prove, confirm, substantiate
Usage: The use of refute to mean deny as in I'm not refuting the fact that is thought by some people to be incorrect. In careful writing it may be advisable to use refute only where there is an element of disproving something through argument and evidence, as in we haven't got evidence to refute their hypothesis.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
refute
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
refute
(rəˈfjuːt) verb to prove that (a person, statement etc) is wrong. You can easily refute his argument.refutar
reˈfutable adjectiveˌrefuˈtation (refju-) nounKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.