as in disproving
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in denying
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 discrediting
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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Recent Examples of refuting
Melina Khan, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
On Tuesday, Cordero-Stutz’s office issued a statement refuting a recent school system memo that had said there was a deal for the Sheriff’s Office to help process outstanding bus-camera violations that had been issued before last year’s suspension but are currently stalled in court.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
Unfortunately for Izzo, there are decades of film refuting this as a media dramatization.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The plethora of fourth-quarter collapses offers refuting evidence.
—Sam McDowell 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2026
An ancient giant kangaroo that lived in Australia 50,000 years ago likely hopped after all, refuting past research on the species, according to a new study.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2026
In early 2023, Lachlan pleaded with Liz to issue a statement refuting a Financial Times article that said James would force him out upon Rupert’s death.
—Gabriel Sherman, Vanity Fair, 14 Jan. 2026
However, an insider close to Nicola is refuting that account.
—Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
According to the Department of Industrial Relations, the violations were issued without proper internal documentation, failed to consider materials previously submitted by the company refuting the violations, and should not have been sent.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
Verb
But the company is refuting the claims.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
On Tuesday, Cordero-Stutz’s office issued a statement refuting a recent school system memo that had said there was a deal for the Sheriff’s Office to help process outstanding bus-camera violations that had been issued before last year’s suspension but are currently stalled in court.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Feb. 2026
Unfortunately for Izzo, there are decades of film refuting this as a media dramatization.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The plethora of fourth-quarter collapses offers refuting evidence.
—Sam McDowell 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2026
An ancient giant kangaroo that lived in Australia 50,000 years ago likely hopped after all, refuting past research on the species, according to a new study.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2026
In early 2023, Lachlan pleaded with Liz to issue a statement refuting a Financial Times article that said James would force him out upon Rupert’s death.
—Gabriel Sherman, Vanity Fair, 14 Jan. 2026
However, an insider close to Nicola is refuting that account.
—Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
According to the Department of Industrial Relations, the violations were issued without proper internal documentation, failed to consider materials previously submitted by the company refuting the violations, and should not have been sent.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuting
Verb
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Authorities are increasingly denying detainees access to legal counsel and often holding them for days or weeks before allowing any phone calls to family.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Decades later, Faraci cooperated with Modrowski’s lawyer during the post-conviction proceedings and submitted two affidavits in 2019 and 2011 denying Modrowski was involved, court records show.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Supporters of Pahlavi were particularly vocal in Mashhad this month, as attested by the prevalence of pro-monarchy graffiti on city walls, and the regime’s propaganda devoted particular attention to discrediting the former crown prince.—
Davood Moradian,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
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Elordi and Giannulli appeared to be going strong over the next two years, with sources discrediting breakup speculation to PEOPLE in January 2024 and as the two vacationed together in Italy the following September.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In Gingles’ apartment, investigators found a letter from the DMV in Texas, dated less than two weeks before the murders, rejecting an application for a Texas certificate of title for a vehicle.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
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Even Republican districts are rejecting the rapid buildout of ICE detention facilities in their communities.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Enacting government reforms like congressional term limits, banning stock trading and overturning citizens united would make congress members more accountable to the people and less likely to play partisan games to appease special interest groups.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2026
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Barcelona first entered the top eight on the hour-mark after overturning a one-goal deficit against Copenhagen, while Manchester City took a two-goal lead within half an hour at home to Galatasaray.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Which may make his initial approach seem a bit contradictory to the expectation.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
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The high court typically weighs in on cases where multiple judicial circuits have contradictory rulings on the same matter, but Bill Shipley, a former federal prosecutor, believes the justices could take up the case before such a split among the appeals courts.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Adapting and expanding upon a lean Don Winslow novella, Layton adds many sometimes unnecessarily complex ingredients to the pot, with characters intersecting and allegiances and motivations often contradicting one another.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2026
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Videos later surfaced contradicting their statements.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Michigan State and Michigan are the only programs disproving that, as each is 11-3 in conference road games dating to last season.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
23 Jan. 2026
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The other partner’s reaction ends up confirming those beliefs instead of disproving them.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Drone soccer requires pilots to maneuver spherical drones through an opposing goal.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
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Opponent-process theory, refined in the seventies by the psychologists Richard Solomon and John Corbit, holds that the body balances out the high of a drug with the opposing force of a comedown or a withdrawal.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refuting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuting. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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