Find the word definition

Crossword clues for refute

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
refute
verb
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ I knew that he was lying but I had no evidence with which to refute his story.
▪ Several scientists have attempted to refute Moore's theories.
▪ The accusation has been wholly refuted by an in-depth analysis of the evidence.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ He learned how to boom out facts and figures to the city council members that they were unable to refute.
▪ It is hard to refute these biblical arguments.
▪ Something which I can positively refute!
▪ The technique can also be used to confirm or refute current theories.
▪ There is no reason to refute this argument: undoubtedly this is a sentiment seemingly shared by many Shetlanders.
▪ There was really very little I could do actively to refute the charge of selfishness.
▪ These data do not refute the law of demand.
▪ This time, Gold did not refute the point.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Refute

Refute \Re*fute"\ (r?*F3t"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Refuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Refuting.] [F. r['e]futer, L. refuteare to repel, refute. Cf. Confute, Refuse to deny.] To disprove and overthrow by argument, evidence, or countervailing proof; to prove to be false or erroneous; to confute; as, to refute arguments; to refute testimony; to refute opinions or theories; to refute a disputant.

There were so many witnesses in these two miracles that it is impossible to refute such multitudes.
--Addison.

Syn: To confute; disprove. See Confute.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
refute

1510s, "refuse, reject," from Middle French réfuter (16c.) and directly from Latin refutare "drive back; rebut, disprove; repress, repel, resist, oppose," from re- "back" (see re-) + -futare "to beat," probably from PIE root *bhau- "to strike down" (see bat (n.1)).\n

\nMeaning "prove wrong" dates from 1540s. Since c.1964 linguists have frowned on the subtle shift in meaning towards "to deny," as it is used in connection with allegation. Related: Refuted; refuting.

Wiktionary
refute

vb. 1 (context transitive English) To prove (something) to be false or incorrect. 2 (context transitive English) To deny the truth or correctness of (something).

WordNet
refute
  1. v. overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof; "The speaker refuted his opponent's arguments" [syn: rebut]

  2. prove to be false or incorrect [syn: rebut, controvert]

Usage examples of "refute".

Catholics, are popular superstitions, envy, calumnies, backbiting, insinuations, and the like, which, being neither punished nor refuted, stir up suspicion of witchcraft.

She went on to explain how medical experts had refuted the allegations made in court and, both there and at the Australian government hearing, had given Montayne a clean bill.

The various passages yet unnoticed which purport to have been uttered by Jehovah or at his command, and which are urged to show that the reality of a retributive life after death is a revealed doctrine of the Old Testament, will be found, upon critical examination, either to owe their entire relevant force to mistranslation, or to be fairly refuted by the reasonings already advanced.

But we hope that this will suffice to refute those who either deny altogether that there are such transvections, or try to maintain that they are only imaginary or phantastical.

Lucia refuted from behind us, in the small, unconvertible bench she insisted upon taking.

Joan had dozens of ungranted wishes to refute the legend, but nonetheless, in honor of the holiday, she decided to try one more.

Vives wrote a special tract to refute the arguments of the Anabaptists on communism.

Catholics, are popular superstitions, envy, calumnies, backbiting, insinuations, and the like, which, being neither punished nor refuted, stir up suspicion of witchcraft.

In after times these may be told, and the life of Fanny Derham be presented as a useful lesson, at once to teach what goodness and genius can achieve in palliating the woes of life, and to encourage those, who would in any way imitate her, by an example of calumny refuted by patience, errors rectified by charity, and the passions of our nature purified and ennobled by an underviating observance of those moral laws on which all human excellence is founded--a love of truth in ourselves, and a sincere sympathy with our fellow-creatures.

Southeastern coastal populations, and this site could substantiate or refute ethnohistoric accounts.

There is a powerful reason why some Madhyamika schools only refute the arguments of others and refuse to make assertions.

Adam Nichols had warned him about and how he could refute every single one.

Jesuits in the Clementinum, but since then it had been soundly refuted by Casaubon, a Switzer, a Huguenot who had come to England at the invitation of King James.

After I had wasted my time in hurling at her bitter reproaches, the force of which did not strike her, and in proving to her that she was a stupid fool, she refuted all my arguments by the most complete silence.

I have taken care to have it in my power to refute them from the most authentick information.