refute

[ ri-fyoot ]
/ rɪˈfyut /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR refute ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), re·fut·ed, re·fut·ing.

to prove to be false or erroneous, as an opinion or charge.
to prove (a person) to be in error.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?
Question 1 of 10
earnest
full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.
a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.
urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of refute

1505–15; < Latin refūtāre “to check, suppress, refute, rebut,” equivalent to re- re- + -fūtāre presumably, “to beat” (attested only with the prefixes con- and re-; cf. confute)

OTHER WORDS FROM refute

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH refute

deny disapprove disprove rebut refutedispute refuterefudiate refute repudiate (see word story at refudiate)

Words nearby refute

refuse, refusenik, refusion, refutation, refutative, refute, reg, reg., reg. prof., regain, regal
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to refute

repudiate, contradict, expose, counter, quash, oppose, disprove, squelch, rebut, invalidate, negate, cancel, debate, contend, top, crush, overthrow, convict, dispute, contravene

Example sentences from the Web for refute

British Dictionary definitions for refute

refute
/ (rɪˈfjuːt) /

verb

(tr) to prove (a statement, theory, charge, etc) of (a person) to be false or incorrect; disprove
to deny (a claim, charge, allegation, etc)

Derived forms of refute

refutable (ˈrɛfjʊtəbəl, rɪˈfjuː-), adjectiverefutability (ˌrɛfjʊtəˈbɪlɪtɪ, rɪˌfjuː-), nounrefutably, adverbrefuter, noun

Word Origin for refute

C16: from Latin refūtāre to rebut

usage for refute

The use of refute to mean deny is thought by many people to be incorrect
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