disprove

American  

[dis-proov] / dɪsˈpruv /

verb (used with object)

disproved, disproving

1. to prove (an assertion, claim, etc.) to be false or wrong; refute; invalidate.

   I disproved his claim.

   Synonyms:

   confute, negate, contradict, discredit

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disprove British  

/ dɪsˈpruːv /

verb

1. (tr) to show (an assertion, claim, etc) to be incorrect

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Other Word Forms

• disprovable adjective
• disproval noun
• disprover noun
• undisprovable adjective
• undisproved adjective

Etymology

Origin of disprove

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French desprover, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ ( def. ) + prover prove

Example Sentences

The main effect of her suit was that Lake was ordered to pay $33,000 to the witnesses who helped disprove Lake’s false claims in court.

From Salon

The challenge, he added, is that it is almost “impossible to disprove a negative,” or convince investors that “AI isn’t going to disrupt this business.”

From The Wall Street Journal

In these investigations, the commission acts as both prosecutor and judge—accusing companies of noncompliance under a broad, ambiguous law, then deciding if companies’ answers are enough to disprove the allegations.

From The Wall Street Journal

Software vendors are now in the challenging position of having to disprove a negative.

From The Wall Street Journal

Retail investors have emerged in the past five years as a powerful force that, en masse, has disproved investment disciplines like “Buy low and sell high.”

From Barron's

Related Words

• belie
• confound
• contradict
• discredit
• impugn
• invalidate
• negate
• rebut
• refute