Definition of refutationnext
as in rebuttal
something (as an argument) that serves to disprove these are hard scientific facts against which there can be no reasonable refutation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of refutation Or a refutation of activism — Zayd admires his parents’ commitment. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026 The death of New START represents the refutation of those decades of work. Matthew Gault, Wired News, 9 Feb. 2026 However, some legal experts and investors are anticipating a partial or full refutation of the president’s IEEPA tariffs, as the justices showed skepticism during arguments about the president’s authority to levy such taxes without Congressional approval. Jake Angelo, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026 Indian investment behavior, Rustomjee argues, is a living refutation of the efficient market hypothesis, or the idea that stock prices faithfully reflect all available information about the underlying asset. Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for refutation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refutation
Noun
  • 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, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • On a Sunday afternoon in July, while much of the world watched the World Cup final, a counterexample was found to the Jacobian conjecture, a problem that had resisted proof or disproof since 1939.
    Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Non-falsifiable and untestable hypotheses cannot be checked out, and hence those ideas are incapable of disproof.
    Big Think, Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Refutation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refutation. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on refutation

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster