Dictionary

refute

Etymology

From Latin refūtō.

Pronunciation

(RP, America) enPR: rə-fyo͞ot, IPA: /ɹɪˈfjuːt/, /ɹəˈfjut/

Verb

refute (refutes, present participle refuting; simple past and past participle refuted)

(transitive) To prove (something) to be false or incorrect.
(transitive, proscribed) To deny the truth or correctness of (something).

Conjugation

Conjugation of refute

infinitive	(to) refute
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	refute	refuted
2nd-person singular	refute, refutest^†	refuted, refutedst^†
3rd-person singular	refutes, refuteth^†	refuted
plural	refute	refuted

subjunctive	refute	refuted

imperative	refute	—

participles	refuting	refuted

^†Archaic or obsolete.

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

French: réfuter
German: widerlegen, entkräften
Italian: smentire
Portuguese: refutar, desmentir
Russian: опроверга́ть
Spanish: refutar, rebatir, negar la mayor

Translations

French: rejeter, contester, chicaner, récuser
German: anfechten, widersprechen
Italian: smentire
Portuguese: negar
Russian: отрица́ть
Spanish: negar rehusar, rechazar

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