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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refute
These findings refuted longstanding preconceived beliefs about humans and animals.
—
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
The appellate court's decision refuted multiple issues with Avery's arguments.
—Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
An annual spectacle to refute our constant erasure, whether intended or committed in ignorance, from the zeitgeist.
—Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
Health experts and medical organizations are refuting claims of a link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism.
—Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refute
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
The appellate court's decision refuted multiple issues with Avery's arguments.
—Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
An annual spectacle to refute our constant erasure, whether intended or committed in ignorance, from the zeitgeist.
—Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
Health experts and medical organizations are refuting claims of a link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism.
—Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refute
Verb
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Upon the basis of these findings, Congress declares that the constitutional right of citizens to vote is denied or abridged in some areas by the requirement of the payment of a poll tax as a precondition to voting.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Oct. 2025
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The administration says the white South African farmers face discrimination and violence in South Africa, which the country’s government denies.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Pritzker has been trying to debunk claims that Chicago is an out-of-control hellhole; to assert in court that the federal government has no right to send in federal troops; and to discredit the tactics by immigration agents to arrest migrants in his state’s streets and businesses.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
20 Oct. 2025
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Demonstrations can be hard to describe and easy to discredit.—
Nancy Gibbs,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The council had already rejected Allied once before, months earlier, over settlements — including back wages — that the company has had to pay out to current and former employees.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
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Teachers, students, and parents alike rejected the $850 million effort.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Why do some people endorse claims that can easily be disproved?—
Abraham Rutchick,
The Conversation,
15 Oct. 2025
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Abramov points out that this does not disprove the Mars life explanation, but rather just presents an alternative, albeit much more probable, explanation for the evidence.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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However, the facts contradict these reports.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
19 Oct. 2025
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Arrest of Massachusetts teen A 13-year-old in Everett, Massachusetts, was detained by ICE and moved to a different state last week in a case in which local officials have contradicted a key statement from a DHS official.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Additionally, the letter calls on Congressional support for the European Union to overturn its ban on Sulfuryl Fluoride, a pesticide used to fumigate Southern Yellow Pine wood chips on breakbulk cargo ships.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
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The British Library overturned its initial decision by issuing Wilde’s proxy a new card in his name.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Then-Media School Dean James Shanahan rebutted the assertion, saying the school had never sought to influence the paper's content.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
14 Oct. 2025
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At Tuesday’s meeting and prior to a vote by the council, Fuller will be given the right to rebut the grounds for the censure proposed.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Since Olympic charter flights to Milan will be departing from the New York area, and because the Islanders had been promised an event in February 2026, the possibility of doing a big press availability was discussed as an alternative.—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
22 Oct. 2025
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Elsewhere in the podcast, Shallow discusses her penchant for using femininity and flirtation as reality TV weapons, and how that nickname cast a shadow on her real-life relationships.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refute. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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