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

For years, Vladimir Putin has had a convincing rebuttal to anyone who thought Western sanctions would bring his country to its knees. — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 2 July 2026

Those are legitimate concerns, and yet the rebuttals are just as logical. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 2 July 2026

The filing, submitted Wednesday in Cabarrus Superior Court and first reported by The Cabarrus Compass, is the county’s first formal rebuttal to Newton’s lawsuit seeking severance after he was fired just five months into the job. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2026

The rebuttal will be that any form of AI could or should be seen as theft and is a slippery slope toward taking away people’s jobs. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 26 June 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