Pronunciation

/refjuːt/

Definitions

• Verb: (v) To disprove or contradict; to show that something is false or incorrect. TFD
• Noun: The act of refuting; the process of disproving or disproving a claim or argument. Collins

Phrases

• “Refute a claim” means to provide evidence against its truth.
• “Refute someone’s argument” means to disprove their reasoning.
• “To refute popular beliefs” is to challenge commonly held opinions.

Example Sentences

• Verb: “The scientist was able to refute the hypothesis with experimental data.”
• Noun: “His arguments were thoroughly refuted during the debate.”
• Infinitive: “It’s important to carefully consider evidence before attempting to refute someone’s point.”

Synonyms

• Disprove
• Discredit
• Dispute
• Counter
• Oppose
• Challenge
• Debunk

Antonyms

• Prove
• Support
• Confirm
• Assert
• Advocate

Usage

In a sentence, “refute” is often followed by a claim, argument, or theory, while “disprove” and “debunk” are similar but may imply a more sensational or debunking nature. For example:

• “The historian successfully refuted the widely accepted theory.”
• “Scientists worked tirelessly to disprove the existence of a link between vaccines and autism.”
• “Many conspiracy theories have been debunked by researchers.”