Meaning & use
refute
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To show with evidence or argument that a claim, theory or accusation is false.
Grammar: Always takes an object: refute a claim, refute the theory.
Patterns
- refute a claim
- refute something with something
Her data refuted the idea that the drug was harmful.
Scientists refuted the old theory with careful measurements.
The lawyer easily refuted every point the prosecutor made.
verbtransitiveinformal
To reject or deny something that has been said, often loosely, without providing proof.
Grammar: Used this way in news and politics, though careful writers prefer deny or dispute.
Patterns
- refute an allegation
- refute a rumor
The minister refuted the rumors in a short statement.
He refuted the allegations but gave no details.
The club refuted reports that the coach would leave.
Word forms
| third person singular | refutes |
|---|---|
| past tense | refuted |
| past participle | refuted |
| -ing form | refuting |
Common combinations
- refute a claim
- New evidence refuted the claim completely.
- refute an argument
- It is hard to refute an argument built on solid facts.
- refute an allegation
- The company refuted the allegation in court.
- conclusively refute
- The experiment conclusively refuted the hypothesis.
- refute a theory
- One failed test can refute a theory.
Synonyms and how they differ
- disprove
- Disprove is the plainest word for proving something false, while refute adds the idea of answering an argument.
- rebut
- Rebut means answering a charge with counter-arguments, and it need not succeed in proving the other side wrong.
- deny
- Deny only says that something is not true, with no need for any evidence, which is how refute is often misused.
- contradict
- Contradict means saying the opposite, while refute means showing that the other claim fails.
Opposites
Word family
- refutation noun
- an act or argument that proves something wrong
- refutable adjective
- able to be proven wrong
- irrefutable adjective
- impossible to prove wrong
- refuter noun
- someone who proves a claim wrong
Commonly confused: refute or refuse? refute or deny?
refute vs refuse
Refuse means to say no to an offer or request, while refute means to prove a claim false. Only the second needs evidence.
refute vs deny
You can deny something just by saying it is not true, but to refute it you must show why it is not.
Practice
Which sentence uses refute in its strict, careful meaning?
Choose one answer.
Refute needs evidence or argument against a claim, which the study provides. Refusing an invitation or saying no without proof is not refuting.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “refute”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.