disprove

[dis-proov]

See more synonyms for disprove on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), dis·proved, dis·prov·ing.

to prove (an assertion, claim, etc.) to be false or wrong; refute; invalidate: I disproved his claim.

Origin of disprove

1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French desprover, equivalent to des- dis-¹ + prover to prove

Related formsdis·prov·a·ble, adjectivedis·prov·er, nounun·dis·prov·a·ble, adjectiveun·dis·proved, adjective

Can be confuseddeny disapprove disprove rebut refute

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

discredit, contradict, negate, confute.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for disprove

Contemporary Examples

The great confusion comes, according to Sánchez, when people try to use science to prove or disprove the existence of God.
Vatican Science on Christmas and Creationism
Christopher Dickey
December 22, 2013
Carreño declared, defying Capriles to disprove allegations that he was involved in “immoral acts,” which is Chavista code for gay.
Venezuela’s Antigay Politicians
Mac Margolis
August 18, 2013
Can we commission a poll to confirm or disprove that thesis?
“Sympathy”—Not A Useful Metric
Emily L. Hauser
April 5, 2013
The second point, also difficult to disprove, seems irrelevant to the job of polemicist.
The Dangers of Trusting Wikipedia With Your Life
Michael Moynihan
April 2, 2013
I confess: I feel safe making this forecast because it's hard to disprove.
Tomorrow You Can Vote Early in the Israeli Election
Gershom Gorenberg
November 5, 2012

Historical Examples

All these answers, were in truth no replies at all, for they did not disprove the facts.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
I will prove their existence, and I will defy you to disprove them.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 57, No. 352, February 1845
Various
I am not equally sure that we can disprove the truth of immediate states of feeling.
Theaetetus
Plato
In all that you say have you any other purpose except to disprove the being of the many?
Parmenides
Plato
My mother alone could disprove it, and she is dead to the world.
A Son of Hagar
Sir Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for disprove

disprove

verb

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

Derived Formsdisprovable, adjectivedisproval, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for disprove

v.

late 14c., from Old French desprover "refute, contradict," from des- (see dis-) + prover (see prove). Related: Disproved; disproving.

disprove

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Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for disprove

Contemporary Examples

The great confusion comes, according to Sánchez, when people try to use science to prove or disprove the existence of God.

Carreño declared, defying Capriles to disprove allegations that he was involved in “immoral acts,” which is Chavista code for gay.

Can we commission a poll to confirm or disprove that thesis?

The second point, also difficult to disprove, seems irrelevant to the job of polemicist.

I confess: I feel safe making this forecast because it's hard to disprove.

Historical Examples

All these answers, were in truth no replies at all, for they did not disprove the facts.

I will prove their existence, and I will defy you to disprove them.

I am not equally sure that we can disprove the truth of immediate states of feeling.

In all that you say have you any other purpose except to disprove the being of the many?

My mother alone could disprove it, and she is dead to the world.

disprove

Word Origin and History for disprove

v.

Origin of disprove