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
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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
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Recent Examples of refute
Further, research has not deeply examined Tylenol risks in young children, and many rigorous studies refute a link between vaccines and autism.
—
Amy Maxmen, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
The debunked claim that vaccines are tied to autism stems from a 1998 study by British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield in The Lancet, which has since been refuted by numerous studies.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
In contrast, today there are many million individual pieces of evidence in every branch of biology, all of which support and none of which refute the essential correctness of Darwin’s theory.
—D. Scott Schmid, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Barrett himself previously addressed the rumors surrounding his time off, refuting any suggestion that he had been removed from his position.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refute
Amy Maxmen, ABC News, 23 Sep. 2025
The debunked claim that vaccines are tied to autism stems from a 1998 study by British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield in The Lancet, which has since been refuted by numerous studies.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
In contrast, today there are many million individual pieces of evidence in every branch of biology, all of which support and none of which refute the essential correctness of Darwin’s theory.
—D. Scott Schmid, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Barrett himself previously addressed the rumors surrounding his time off, refuting any suggestion that he had been removed from his position.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refute
Verb
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The organization denied any criminal activity.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
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Peng denies such ties, and says Pony’s Chinese expertise may give it advantages in the US — despite the hostile political climate.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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There would be accusations of race manipulation, an online mob discrediting Wallace’s win as undeserved, and an angry Joe Gibbs Racing organization, which would now realize Hamlin puts another team’s interests ahead of their own.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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Over time, as research increasingly pointed to genetics as a major factor in autism, the theory was discredited.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Prosecutors also sought another charge of making false statements, court documents released Thursday show, but the grand jury rejected it.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
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ByteDance and TikTok had challenged the law on First Amendment grounds but the Supreme Court rejected its appeal.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Lowell said records and correspondence easily disproved Pulte’s allegation.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
20 Sep. 2025
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Not long after MacDougall’s 21 grams experiment, a scientist named Professor Twining attempted to disprove MacDougall by weighing dying mice.—
Leah Hudson,
Popular Science,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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His recommendation directly contradicts the current medical consensus that judicious Tylenol use in pregnancy remains safe.—
Edith Bracho-Sanchez,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
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The eyewitnesses — boaters who were on the scene immediately after the crash, before first responders — contradicted several key aspects of the FWC report.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In June, a three-judge panel had ruled unanimously that teaching yoga is protected speech and that city officials had failed to show how the classes threaten public safety or prevent enjoyment of the city’s shoreline parks, overturning a lower court’s ruling.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Sep. 2025
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Another company explored the Bend and Reef deposits in 2011 and 2012, but since then no further action was taken, partially due to a mining moratorium in Wisconsin in place until the state Legislature overturned it in 2017.—
Laura Schulte,
jsonline.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Every later sleuth, including Kuriyama and Honan, needs to grapple with Nicholl, if only to rebut him.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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Starmer could have rebutted this, pointing to the Conservatives’ vastly more numerous 121 seats.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Back in Europe, regional leaders will converge in Copenhagen on Wednesday to discuss measures to bolster the continent’s security, following a recent spate of airspace incursions in countries including Denmark, Poland, Romania and Estonia.—
Tasmin Lockwood,Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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Women who are at higher risk with a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors should discuss timing of screening with their health care provider.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refute. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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