controvert

American  

[kon-truh-vurt, kon-truh-vurt] / ˈkɒn trəˌvɜrt, ˌkɒn trəˈvɜrt /

verb (used with object)

1. to argue against; dispute; deny; oppose.

   Synonyms:

   rebut, refute

2. to argue about; debate; discuss.

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controvert British  

/ ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːt, ˈkɒntrəˌvɜːt /

verb

1. to deny, refute, or oppose (some argument or opinion)

2. to argue or wrangle about

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Other Word Forms

• controverter noun
• controvertible adjective
• controvertibly adverb
• controvertist noun
• uncontroverted adjective
• uncontrovertedly adverb
• uncontrovertible adjective
• uncontrovertibly adverb

Etymology

Origin of controvert

First recorded in 1600–10; alteration of earlier controverse (from Latin contrōversus; controversy ) with -vert as in advert ¹, convert ¹

Explanation

If you controvert something, you dispute it. If you argue for a new pony, your parents will controvert your argument by pointing out you said the same thing about the dog — the one they have to walk. The verb controvert can mean to prove to be false or untrue. If you are a historian, you know that new evidence often controverts commonly-held beliefs, so history is constantly being revised and updated. Many children grew up learning that Christopher Columbus landed first in America, but now we have evidence to controvert that idea and other explorers such as Leif Eriksson beat Columbus to America.

Example Sentences

“I shall have to controvert one or two ideas that are almost universally accepted. We have all been taught that there is no difference between time and any of the three dimensions of space —”

From Nature • Jun. 16, 2020

No. Do they offer evidence to controvert Sheeran’s confession or acknowledge that they have read the book for themselves, especially the Epilogue from 2005 and the Conclusion from 2016 that offer corroboration of Sheeran’s confessions?

From Slate • Aug. 16, 2019

There may not be another major leaguer whose actions so controvert long-established norms.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2017

I was not able, for instance, to controvert some of the more specific arguments of Pat Buchanan.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2013

He was not disposed to controvert the evidence of the senses, but he had a sufficient explanation ready.

From The Gentle Reader by Crothers, Samuel McChord