rebuttal

noun

re·​but·​tal ri-ˈbə-tᵊl 

: the act of rebutting especially in a legal suit

also : argument or proof that rebuts

Synonyms of rebuttal

• refutation

Examples of rebuttal in a Sentence

an effective rebuttal to her claim of having the gift of clairvoyance

Recent Examples on the Web

However, that type of argument would be subject to rebuttals, including that the WNBA has emphasized inclusivity. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Aug. 2026

By way of a rebuttal, Searle imagined a lone man in a room receiving messages under the door. — Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026

Kanter and former first round NBA pick, Royce White, both declared their intentions to enter the WNBA Draft late last week as a clear rebuttal to the ongoing drama surrounding Sophie Cunningham and the league. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Sustained high performance by firms that treat customer value as primary remains the strongest empirical rebuttal. — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rebuttal

• cuttle
• scuttle
• shtetl
• shuttle
• subtle
• suttle

Kids Definition

rebuttal

noun

re·​but·​tal ri-ˈbət-ᵊl 

: the act of rebutting

also : argument or proof that rebuts

Legal Definition

rebuttal

noun

re·​but·​tal ri-ˈbət-ᵊl 

: the act or procedure of rebutting

also : evidence or argument that rebuts