Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
refute
re-fute′
(rē̍-fūt′)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Refuted
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Refuting
.] To disprove and overthrow by argument, evidence, or countervailing proof; to prove to be false or erroneous; to confute;
as, to
refute
arguments; to refute
testimony; to refute
opinions or theories; to refute
a disputant.There were so many witnesses in these two miracles that it is impossible to
refute
such multitudes. Addison.
Syn. – To confute; disprove. See
Confute
. Webster 1828 Edition
Refute
REFU'TE
,Verb.
T.
To disprove and overthrow by argument, evidence or countervailing proof; to prove to be false or erroneous; to confute. We say, to refute arguments, to refute testimony, to refute opinions or theories, to refute a disputant.
There were so many witnesses to these two miracles, that it is impossible to refute such multitudes.
Definition 2024
refute
refute
English
Verb
refute (third-person singular simple present refutes, present participle refuting, simple past and past participle refuted)
- (transitive) To prove (something) to be false or incorrect.
- 1791, James Boswell, The life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.:
- After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time together of Bishop Berkeley's ingenious sophistry to prove the non-existence of matter, and that every thing in the universe is merely ideal. I observed, that though we are satisfied his doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it.
-
- (transitive) To deny the truth or correctness of (something).
- 1791, James Boswell, The life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.:
- I never shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he rebounded from it, "I refute it thus."
-
Usage notes
The second meaning of refute (“to deny the truth of”) is proscribed as erroneous by some (compare Merriam Webster,1994). An alternative term with such a meaning is repudiate, which means to reject or refuse to acknowledge, but without the implication of justification. However, this distinction does not exist in the original Latin refūtō (“oppose, resist, rebut”), which can apply to both senses.
Synonyms
- (prove (something) to be false): debunk, disprove, rebut
- (deny the truth or correctness): deny, gainsay, rebut, reject, repudiate
Antonyms
- (prove (something) to be false): demonstrate, prove
- (deny the truth or correctness): accept, embrace
Related terms
Translations
to prove (something) to be false or incorrect
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to deny the truth or correctness of (something)
Portuguese
Verb
refute
- first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of refutar
- third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of refutar
- third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of refutar
- third-person singular (você) negative imperative of refutar
Spanish
Verb
refute