Synonyms of refute

refute

verb

ri-ˈfyüt 

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

• deny
• reject
• contradict
• disavow
• negate
• disclaim
• repudiate
• disown
• disallow
• gainsay
• disprove
• disconfirm
• disaffirm
• negative
• rebut
• traverse
• challenge
• dispute
• confute
• disagree (with)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confirm
• acknowledge
• admit
• allow
• accept
• concede
• own
• adopt
• claim
• submit
• maintain
• embrace
• assert
• affirm
• declare
• avow
• announce
• verify
• profess
• substantiate
• validate
• espouse
• corroborate
• aver
• authenticate

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

• discredit
• disprove
• overturn
• rebut
• discuss
• challenge
• falsify
• debunk
• confute
• question
• belie
• disconfirm
• confound
• shoot down
• debate
• doubt
• give the lie to
• overthrow
• contest
• talk over
• query
• moot
• mistrust
• hash (over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prove
• establish
• confirm
• verify
• validate
• show
• support
• record
• witness
• document
• substantiate
• identify
• evidence
• corroborate
• demonstrate
• certify
• illustrate
• back (up)
• evince
• display
• buttress
• manifest
• adduce
• attest
• authenticate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of refute

Many d This week, the department issued a follow-up statement refuting both of those claims. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

The distant thud of shelling punctuates the evening, refuting one guest’s optimism that the latest ceasefire agreement will endure. — Literary Hub, 14 July 2026

With the only Black newspaper in town gone, there was no one to refute that false narrative. — Lee Cowan, CBS News, 12 July 2026

More studies are needed to either confirm or refute such early findings. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026