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refute

[ ri-fyoot ]
/ rɪˈfyut /
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See synonyms for: refute / refuting 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.
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Origin of refute

First recorded in 1505–15; from 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

1. deny, disprove, rebut, refute 2. dispute, refute 3. refudiate, refute , repudiate (see word story at refudiate)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to refute

contradict, counter, disprove, expose, oppose, quash, rebut, repudiate, squelch, abnegate, break, burn, cancel, confute, contend, contravene, convict, crush, debate, demolish

How to use refute in a sentence

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
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