rebut

verb

re·​but ri-ˈbət 

rebutted; rebutting

transitive verb

1

: to drive or beat back : repel

2

a

: to contradict or oppose by formal legal argument, plea, or countervailing proof

b

: to expose the falsity of : refute

intransitive verb

: to make or furnish an answer or counter proof

rebuttable

ri-ˈbə-tə-bəl 

adjective

Did you know?

The -but in rebut once meant basically "butt", so rebut's original meanings were "to drive or beat back" and "to attack with violent language". Rebuttals can still be rather violent, as anyone who has watched some heated moments in a presidential debate can testify. The word is often used by lawyers, since the lawyer for the accused or for the party being sued almost always tries to rebut the charges against his or her client; but it's also used in plenty of contexts outside the courtroom.

Synonyms of rebut

• repel
• resist
• repulse

Examples of rebut in a Sentence

Her lawyer attempted to rebut the witness's testimony.

Stalingrad's defenders were finally able to rebut the besiegers, but only after a horrendous loss of life.

Recent Examples on the Web

Khalil has rebutted the government’s characterizations of his advocacy as bigoted or supportive of violence. —Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026

Standing in as her party's pick to rebut the president, ahead of his reelection bid no less, is a daunting task for any up-and-coming politician, but even some Republicans described Britt's performance with words like baffling and bizarre. —Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Feb. 2026

Alex Lanfranconi, DeSantis’ communications director, also rebutted public outcry over the footage last month. —Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026

The assignment to rebut the State of the Union has often been a mixed blessing, remembered less for its policy content than for stylistic missteps or viral moments. —Julia Terruso, Time, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French reboter, from re- + boter to butt — more at butt entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for rebut

• abut
• catgut
• chesnut
• chestnut
• donut
• doughnut
• groundnut
• haircut
• hindgut
• midgut
• precut
• recut

Kids Definition

rebut

verb

re·​but ri-ˈbət 

rebutted; rebutting

1

: to oppose by argument

2

: to prove to be wrong especially by argument or by proof that the opposite is true

Legal Definition

rebut

transitive verb

re·​but ri-ˈbət 

rebutted; rebutting

: to refute, counteract, or disprove (as opposing evidence) by evidence or argument

rebut damaging testimony

rebut a presumption

rebuttable adjective

rebuttably adverb

Etymology

Anglo-French reboter, rebuter to answer a charge, bar from an action, literally, to repulse, rebuff, from Old French reboter, from re- back + boter to push, butt