1
as in to deny
to declare not to be true
while he was publicly refuting rumors of a merger, behind the scenes the CEO was working to effect that very outcome
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to discredit
to prove to be false
the victories of African-American athlete Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics effectively refuted the racial views of the Nazis
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refute
While the president and his campaign mounted dozens of lawsuits challenging the integrity of the 2020 election, none were successful and claims of widespread fraud were refuted, including by Mr. Trump's former attorney general, Bill Barr.
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Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 1 May 2025
China on Friday pushed back again, refuting the notion that the two sides had held trade discussions.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
As the Trump administration escalates its campaign against international students and Palestinian activists, Jewish New Yorkers are increasingly refuting the idea that the president’s efforts are actually about fighting antisemitism.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
San Francisco Giants Ryan Walker was named the closer by Bob Melvin, which carries weight in considering roles going forward since there has been no comment refuting his role.
—Greg Jewett, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for refute
Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 1 May 2025
China on Friday pushed back again, refuting the notion that the two sides had held trade discussions.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
As the Trump administration escalates its campaign against international students and Palestinian activists, Jewish New Yorkers are increasingly refuting the idea that the president’s efforts are actually about fighting antisemitism.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
San Francisco Giants Ryan Walker was named the closer by Bob Melvin, which carries weight in considering roles going forward since there has been no comment refuting his role.
—Greg Jewett, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for refute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refute
Verb
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Aside from an apology video following the release of security footage in which Combs is seen beating Cassie, the music mogul has denied all of the allegations and claimed the video has been altered.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
12 May 2025
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Though some sheriffs have denied their existence, Luna has acknowledged and vowed to eradicate them.—
Keri Blakinger,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2025
Verb
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The attempts to discredit women like Ventura discount the reality of their lives, Gee said.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
13 May 2025
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But in a possible attempt to discredit Pryor, her name and some details of her confidential complaint, available only to the mayor, commissioners and senior city employees, have been circulated publicly.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
10 May 2025
Verb
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To compound the embarrassment, Arsenal fan group Ashburton Army had raised more than £12,000 to fund their own tifo, which the club rejected (fans who had donated were refunded their money).—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
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On May 16, Brown appeared in Manchester Magistrates’ Court, where Judge Joanne Hirst rejected his bail request.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
18 May 2025
Verb
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Sinners, released on April 18, has just spent a fortnight disproving all of these convenient myths.—
Ayan Artan,
Vogue,
2 May 2025
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Chien-Shiung Wu, the First Lady of Physics Jess Romeo May 21, 2021 Chien-Shiung Wu disproved a fundamental law of physics—a stunning achievement that helped earn her male colleagues (but not her) a Nobel Prize.—
Allison Miller,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The idea that courts cannot issue broad injunctions, or that constitutional protections are available only to those who can individually sue for relief, contradicts the American legal tradition.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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Sitting with the contradictions To be inside the Self-Realization Hollywood Temple is to come to terms with the fact that L.A. contradicts itself every day, every minute.—
Julissa James,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
Verb
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But in April, the state’s Court of Appeals, which has a Republican majority, issued a three-sentence decision overturning the lower court’s ruling without hearing oral arguments.—
Doug Bock Clark,
ProPublica,
16 May 2025
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Those fighting Trump's order say 150 years of judicial precedent will be overturned should the birthright order be allowed to go into effect.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
Verb
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But Biden also will have a chance to rebut some of Donald Trump’s attacks.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
1 May 2025
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Fashion Nova, which did not respond to a request for comment, will have the chance to answer the complaint and rebut the accusations.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
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An Israeli military official, who requested anonymity to discuss operational details, said that some ground troops had begun to advance in Gaza, but declined to say when, where or how far.—
Aaron Boxerman,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
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But social media is full of media personalities and onlookers discussing the Combs trial with the timbre of a gossip blogger recounting a Real Housewives episode.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refute. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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