refutation

ref·u·ta·tion | \ ˌre-fyu̇-ˈtā-shən

How to pronounce refutation (audio)

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Definition of refutation

: the act or process of refuting

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Examples of refutation in a Sentence

these are hard scientific facts against which there can be no reasonable refutation

Recent Examples on the Web The 2012 find was an instant sensation, dividing scholars, the press and the public into camps of non-believers who dismissed it as a forgery and defenders who interpreted it as a refutation of longstanding ideals of Christian celibacy. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, "The Ten Best History Books of 2020," 1 Dec. 2020 Despite refutation from judges and election officials around the country, her narrative has been continually repeated in right-wing media, ensuring that the notion of extensive fraud gained traction unimpeded. — New York Times, "Trump’s Fraud Claims Died in Court, but the Myth of Stolen Elections Lives On," 26 Dec. 2020 But in other cases, science becomes settled and attempts at refutation look increasingly threadbare, if not corrupt. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, "Column: Why I never ‘agree to disagree’ — I just tell you you’re wrong," 22 Dec. 2020 Efforts to decode and contest the omnipresence of white supremacist ideology have supplied invaluable resources for the clear refutation of the Lost Cause since the myth’s brutal inception. — Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, The New Republic, "The Unacceptable Costs of Appeasing MAGA Nation," 21 Dec. 2020 The 2012 find was an instant sensation, dividing scholars, the press and the public into camps of non-believers who dismissed it as a forgery and defenders who interpreted it as a refutation of longstanding ideals of Christian celibacy. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, "The Ten Best History Books of 2020," 1 Dec. 2020 Despite that refutation—and protests from the WHO and from Asian Americans—the White House continued to stigmatize China’s connection to the virus’s emergence. — Maryn Mckenna, Wired, "Two Global Efforts Try to Trace the Origin of the Covid Virus," 2 Dec. 2020 The 2012 find was an instant sensation, dividing scholars, the press and the public into camps of non-believers who dismissed it as a forgery and defenders who interpreted it as a refutation of longstanding ideals of Christian celibacy. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, "The Ten Best History Books of 2020," 1 Dec. 2020 Meller’s team intends to publish a refutation of Krause and Gebhard’s study. — Erin O'hare, Smithsonian Magazine, "Is This Ancient Map of the Cosmos Younger Than Previously Thought?," 17 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'refutation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

20 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Refutation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refutation. Accessed 20 Jan. 2021.

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