1
as in denied
to declare not to be true
while he was publicly refuting rumors of a merger, behind the scenes the CEO was working to effect that very outcome
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discredited
to prove to be false
the victories of African-American athlete Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics effectively refuted the racial views of the Nazis
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refuted
These claims have been widely refuted by cancer experts, who have publicly stated that there is no scientific evidence or clinical trial data to support them at this time.
—
Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Local police and the city manager refuted the claims, saying there was no evidence to support them.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
Newsom has not refuted the possibility.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Motte strongly refuted the notion that there is a correlation between exclusivity and the ability to attract a strategic buyer.
—Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 28 Jan. 2026
Councilmember Ted Bui refuted those concerns and maintained his vocal support of adopting a charter.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
The lawmakers have refuted those claims, arguing that the probe is an act of political intimidation.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026
Following the announcement in December, advocates for transgender children strongly refuted the administration's claims about gender-affirming care and said the moves would put lives at risk.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Lyma Life refuted the ASA’s ruling.
—Brennan Kilbane, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026
Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Local police and the city manager refuted the claims, saying there was no evidence to support them.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026
Newsom has not refuted the possibility.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Motte strongly refuted the notion that there is a correlation between exclusivity and the ability to attract a strategic buyer.
—Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 28 Jan. 2026
Councilmember Ted Bui refuted those concerns and maintained his vocal support of adopting a charter.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
The lawmakers have refuted those claims, arguing that the probe is an act of political intimidation.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 23 Jan. 2026
Following the announcement in December, advocates for transgender children strongly refuted the administration's claims about gender-affirming care and said the moves would put lives at risk.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Lyma Life refuted the ASA’s ruling.
—Brennan Kilbane, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuted
Verb
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The Board of Directors denied Buchanan's reappointment to a full five-year term last October.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Hubbard denied the students' accusations.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And suddenly, along came Franklin Roosevelt, along came the Depression, along came World War II, and they were just discredited.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
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Blamed and discredited, the legendary warriors disband and go into hiding.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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More than 300 district judges in Minnesota and elsewhere have so far rejected the government’s mandatory detention policies, ordering detainees released or granted bond hearings.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
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That happened recently in Kansas City – where voters rejected a new stadium – and Philadelphia, where the team reversed its decision to build the arena near the city’s Chinatown.—
Gidon Jakar,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The International Organization for Migration said the boat overturned Friday north of Zuwara, a city on the northwest coast of Libya that's about 180 miles from the Italian island of Lampedusa, which many migrants attempt to reach by boat from the African coastline.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Maxwell has also been seeking to have her conviction overturned, arguing that she was wrongfully convicted.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Every possible explanation that isn’t ruled out or contradicted by the already-existing data should be considered, and each hypothesis should be tested and examined as rigorously as possible.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
10 Feb. 2026
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In defense of California’s new map, the state’s attorneys told the court the GOP claims defied the public’s understanding of the mid-decade redistricting and contradicted the facts regarding the racial and ethnic makeup of the districts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But Kennedy, in Senate testimony, has argued that a link between vaccines and autism has not been disproved.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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Nearly two decades later, this has been roundly disproved.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Kennedy shot back, Eriksson rebutted, multiple F-bombs were dropped and Kennedy eventually earned an inappropriate behavior warning from World Curling.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
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The defense’s own expert has since rebutted the forensics, arguing the methodology is flawed and insufficient to attribute the sites to anyone.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The planned 90,000-square-foot project would represent the most significant change to the White House grounds in decades and is advancing even as it is challenged in court and questioned on Capitol Hill.—
Dan Diamond,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
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He’s being challenged by Kenya Franklin, a media consultant on political campaigns.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refuted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuted. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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