refuted; refuting
Synonyms
Examples of refute in a Sentence
But for every study that shows acid rain is damaging frogs, another one refutes it.
—
Emily Yoffe, New York Times Magazine, 13 Dec. 1992
And it violates the basic tenet of historical method: that the historian be alert to the negative instances that would refute his thesis and to alternative explanations that would be more plausible than his own.
—Gertrude Himmelfarb, The New History and the Old, 1987
It is not necessary to refute such an argument point by point …
—Denis Goulet, Center Magazine, May 1969
We refute these aspersions whether they come from our best friends or our worst foes.
—Sir Winston Churchill, address in House of Commons, 18 Jan. 1945,
in Nathan Aus, ed., Voices of History 1945–46, 1946
The lawyer refuted the testimony of the witness.
He refutes the notion that he's planning to retire soon.
She refuted the allegations against her.
Emily Yoffe, New York Times Magazine, 13 Dec. 1992
And it violates the basic tenet of historical method: that the historian be alert to the negative instances that would refute his thesis and to alternative explanations that would be more plausible than his own.
—Gertrude Himmelfarb, The New History and the Old, 1987
It is not necessary to refute such an argument point by point …
—Denis Goulet, Center Magazine, May 1969
We refute these aspersions whether they come from our best friends or our worst foes.
—Sir Winston Churchill, address in House of Commons, 18 Jan. 1945,
in Nathan Aus, ed., Voices of History 1945–46, 1946
The lawyer refuted the testimony of the witness.
He refutes the notion that he's planning to retire soon.
She refuted the allegations against her.
Recent Examples on the Web
The podcast host also refuted the book's assertion that Harris' team sent a staffer to scout his Austin studio.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
These claims, which the USCCB refuted in a statement, lead to confusion among the faithful and undermine this critical, core ministry.
—William McCarthy, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2025
Rubio, the first Latino secretary of state, made the trip in part to reiterate President Trump's concern that China has too much influence over the Panama Canal, and needs control of the waterway for economic security, though Mulino has refuted the claim.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2025
Since 2016, when all military occupations opened to women, these biases have been repeatedly refuted.
—Marissa Loya, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for refute 
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
These claims, which the USCCB refuted in a statement, lead to confusion among the faithful and undermine this critical, core ministry.
—William McCarthy, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2025
Rubio, the first Latino secretary of state, made the trip in part to reiterate President Trump's concern that China has too much influence over the Panama Canal, and needs control of the waterway for economic security, though Mulino has refuted the claim.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2025
Since 2016, when all military occupations opened to women, these biases have been repeatedly refuted.
—Marissa Loya, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for refute
Articles Related to refute
Dictionary Entries Near refute
Cite this Entry
“Refute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refute. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
refute
verb
re·fute
ri-ˈfyüt 
refuted; refuting
: to prove wrong by argument or evidence : show to be false
refute the testimony of a witness
refuter
noun
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