Synonyms of refute

refute

verb

ri-ˈfyüt 

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

• deny
• reject
• contradict
• disavow
• negate
• disclaim
• repudiate
• disown
• disallow
• gainsay
• disprove
• disconfirm
• disaffirm
• negative
• rebut
• traverse
• challenge
• dispute
• confute
• disagree (with)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confirm
• acknowledge
• admit
• allow
• accept
• concede
• own
• adopt
• claim
• submit
• maintain
• embrace
• assert
• affirm
• declare
• avow
• announce
• verify
• profess
• substantiate
• validate
• espouse
• corroborate
• aver
• authenticate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• discredit
• disprove
• overturn
• rebut
• discuss
• challenge
• falsify
• debunk
• confute
• question
• belie
• disconfirm
• confound
• shoot down
• debate
• doubt
• give the lie to
• overthrow
• contest
• talk over
• query
• moot
• mistrust
• hash (over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prove
• establish
• confirm
• verify
• validate
• show
• support
• record
• witness
• document
• substantiate
• identify
• evidence
• corroborate
• demonstrate
• certify
• illustrate
• back (up)
• evince
• display
• buttress
• manifest
• adduce
• attest
• authenticate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of refute

Fauci’s decision to shield himself by staying silent gave Republicans free rein to attack him and his response to the COVID-19 pandemic without anyone to refute their statements. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Players from that 1951 side have strongly refuted the story, while the priest at its centre has never been identified. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026

History refutes the myth of the individual genius because innovations are collaborative and cultural. — Michael Muthukrishna, Fortune, 23 July 2026

This timeline refutes the notion that classifying obesity as a disease is driven by commercial interests by drugmakers. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 18 July 2026