refute

[ ri-fyoot ]

/ rɪˈfyut /

SEE MORE 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.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

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)

SYNONYMS FOR refute

1 disprove, rebut.

1, 2 confute.

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Related forms

re·fut·a·ble

[ri-fyoo-tuh-buhl, ref-yuh-tuh-] /rɪˈfyu tə bəl, ˈrɛf yə tə-/, adjectivere·fut·a·bil·i·ty, nounre·fut·a·bly, adverbre·fut·er, noun

self-re·fut·ed, adjectiveself-re·fut·ing, adjectiveun·re·fut·a·ble, adjectiveun·re·fut·a·bly, adverbun·re·fut·ed, adjectiveun·re·fut·ing, adjective

Can be confuseddeny disapprove disprove rebut refutedispute refuterefudiate refute repudiate (see word story at refudiate)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for unrefuted

They have been unrefuted, uncontradicted in any of their details.
The Works of Whittier, Volume VI (of VII)|John Greenleaf Whittier
My books are successful; my theories are unrefuted; but I suffer in politics from a prejudice almost physical in the French.
The Wisdom of Father Brown|G. K. Chesterton
For us it is history undisputed, unrefuted, because it is so natural.
Little Journeys To The Homes Of Great Teachers|Elbert Hubbard
Once, their aim appeared to be a noble possibility, struggling still and unrealized, but unrefuted.
Studies of Christianity|James Martineau

British Dictionary definitions for unrefuted

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

Word Origin for refute

C16: from Latin refūtāre to rebut

usage

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

Word Origin and History for unrefuted

refute

1510s, "refuse, reject," from Middle French réfuter (16c.) and directly from Latin refutare "drive back; rebut, disprove; repress, repel, resist, oppose," from re- "back" (see re-) + -futare "to beat," probably from PIE root *bhau- "to strike down" (see bat (n.1)).

Meaning "prove wrong" dates from 1540s. Since c.1964 linguists have frowned on the subtle shift in meaning towards "to deny," as it is used in connection with allegation. Related: Refuted; refuting.