1
as in to deny
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to discredit
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of refute
This study somewhat refutes the idea that villains are a product of their experiences.
—
Ars Technica, 16 Jan. 2025
The color industry has largely refuted the science.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 15 Jan. 2025
As head-scratching as the whole thing is to look back on, there’s no real refuting that point.
—Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
An exchange with Senator Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, was typical of how Mr. Hegseth sought to refute allegations of impropriety.
—Helene Cooper, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for refute 
Ars Technica, 16 Jan. 2025
The color industry has largely refuted the science.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 15 Jan. 2025
As head-scratching as the whole thing is to look back on, there’s no real refuting that point.
—Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
An exchange with Senator Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, was typical of how Mr. Hegseth sought to refute allegations of impropriety.
—Helene Cooper, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for refute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refute
Verb
-
And the Supreme Court has reaffirmed it in the years since — including in the 1982 case Plyler v. Doe, which held that states cannot deny students a free public education based on their immigration status.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Her office denied Spotlight on Maryland’s interview requests, but provided a comment from the legislator.—
Gary Collins,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Kennedy has already begun to discredit public health measures to counter bird flu.—
Selena Simmons-Duffin,
NPR,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Revoking security clearances of Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, and former intelligence officials who signed a letter discrediting the Hunter Biden laptop story.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
But in September 2022 the new constitution was voted down, rejected in all 16 regions in Chile.—
Sammy Feldblum,
The Dial,
30 Jan. 2025
-
The passage of the bill signals a GOP civil war brewing between DeSantis and Perez and Albritton, who rejected the governor's immigration proposal in favor of their own plan.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Context: Hydroxychloroquine's effectiveness for treating COVID has been disproved — and the IJAA study in France was not the only one to be withdrawn.—
Erin Alberty,
Axios,
18 Dec. 2024
-
Regardless, long-term datasets show Earth’s climate is warming, and a comparison of polar sea ice extents on two random days does not provide enough information to confirm or disprove this trend.—
Kate S. Petersen,
USA TODAY,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The governing body has contradicted itself repeatedly about whether the tests measured testosterone.—
Forbes,
Forbes,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Bidding interest aside, a number of legal and tech experts have told CNBC that Trump's executive order to delay the TikTok ban contradicts the Supreme Court's earlier ruling to uphold the PAFACA and could face legal opposition.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, and Alaska Airlines, joined by trade group Airlines for America and the International Air Transport Association, sued in May to overturn the rules.—
David Shepardson,
USA TODAY,
29 Jan. 2025
-
The pre-pandemic plan for a third runway was blocked by a court on environmental grounds in 2020, before the Supreme Court overturned that decision.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Though Kansas officials have said this is the largest outbreak in history, the Centers for Disease Control rebutted that claim.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Her ambivalence toward her vocation runs throughout her memoir, which interrogates and sometimes rebuts the dogmas that inevitably hardened around such famed artists.—
Claudia La Rocco,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Watch Goldberg’s full message below: The View co-hosts also discussed the White House’s decision to open the press room to new media, including influencers, podcasters, and smaller news outlets.—
Gabriela Silva,
TVLine,
29 Jan. 2025
-
This new take mixes the classic with the modern to give families with teens plenty to discuss.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
29 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to refute
Thesaurus Entries Near refute
Cite this Entry
“Refute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refute. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share