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.

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 refute dispute refute refudiate refute repudiate (see word story at refudiate)

Words nearby refute

refuse, refusenik, refusion, refutation, refutative, refute, reg, reg., reg. prof., regain, regal

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-), adjective refutability (ˌrɛfjʊtəˈbɪlɪtɪ, rɪˌfjuː-), noun refutably, adverb refuter, 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