refute

verb

ri-ˈfyüt How to pronounce refute (audio)
Definition of refutenext
1
as in to deny
to declare not to be true while he was publicly refuting rumors of a merger, behind the scenes the CEO was working to effect that very outcome

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to discredit
to prove to be false the victories of African-American athlete Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics effectively refuted the racial views of the Nazis

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of refute The State Department has refuted arguments that funding cuts contributed to a slower response to the virus. — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026 In his Facebook post, Khrzhanovsky refutes or qualifies the various accusations made against him and his film. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026 Minneapolis’s Walker Art Center and the artist Olalekan Jeyifous are refuting accusations by some museum visitors that his work was made using generative AI, reports MPR News. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Greenidge, an award-winning public historian, refuted all charges, and told the New York Times that attacks on her scholarship were racially motivated. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for refute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refute
  1. deny
  2. discredit
  3. reject
  4. disprove
  5. contradict
  6. overturn
  7. rebut
  8. discuss
Verb
  • During a month in detention, Khan was denied access to medications for hypothyroidism, high blood pressure and glaucoma, according to testimony by her daughter, Riya Khan.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • He was then kept at Palace the following season playing just eight times, being denied the opportunity for a temporary move away, before playing 36 times for Sheffield United in the Championship in 2024-25, scoring seven times.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of deny
Verb
  • In trying to discredit public concerns about data centers as a psyop, Goldman and others said, tech leaders are taking a page out of the intelligence playbook themselves.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Inflicting these details on the jury, the children’s family members, and the public served no discernible purpose in establishing Clancy’s mens rea, which might have discredited her not-guilty plea.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of discredit
Verb
  • The Athletic reported on Monday that all parties have now been in direct communication to confirm the deal is off after City’s bid of an initial £75m and £5m in add-ons was rejected.
    — The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Palal also rejected the defense’s contention that Davis fabricated his accounts to make money.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of reject
Verb
  • Legal experts said the slow pace reflects a cautious approach by Graf, the large volume of evidence and a desire by prosecutors to disprove conspiracy theories around the case.
    — Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Most scientific evidence would agree, although disproving the other possibilities can be problematic.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of disprove
Verb
  • Critics say its removal contradicts the program’s founding mission and longstanding curatorial principles.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Evidence contradicted his story of being attacked with a box cutter, including an absence of blood on the weapon’s blade, officials said.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of contradict
Verb
  • While the ban lasted only three weeks, both the number of weekly visits to the needle exchange and the number of naloxone kits distributed were lower than expected for at least the 20 weeks after the ban was overturned.
    — Paul Christine, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
  • His acquittal was overturned and the case was merged with that relating to the coup attempt.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of overturn
Verb
  • The prosecution then called three rebuttal witnesses, called to rebut previous testimony, according to Cornell Law School.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Prosecution witnesses could not rebut Resnick through their own expert witnesses, Reddington claimed.
    — Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of rebut
Verb
  • Along with the move back to Britain, Meghan’s acting return was a subject the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had reportedly been discussing for some time, according to People.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Yet many Jews then and now objected to the idea that bringing up Israel’s war in Lebanon was appropriate context when discussing a synagogue attack.
    — Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of discuss

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Cite this Entry

“Refute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refute. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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