Library / English Dictionary

REFUTE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Prove to be false or incorrect

Synonyms:

controvert; rebut; refute

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "refute" is one way to...):

confute; disprove (prove to be false)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

refutation (the act of determining that something is false)

refutation (any evidence that helps to establish the falsity of something)

refuter (a debater who refutes or disproves by offering contrary evidence or argument)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof

Example:

The speaker refuted his opponent's arguments

Synonyms:

rebut; refute

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "refute" is one way to...):

disown; renounce; repudiate (cast off)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "refute"):

contradict; controvert; oppose (be resistant to)

answer (give a defence or refutation of (a charge) or in (an argument))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

refutation (any evidence that helps to establish the falsity of something)

refutation (the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions)

refuter (a debater who refutes or disproves by offering contrary evidence or argument)

Credits