refute

1 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 contradict, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, deny, reject, repudiateRelated Words traverse; challenge, confute, disprove, rebut; disagree (with), disputeNear Antonyms accept, adopt, embrace, espouse; affirm, announce, assert, aver, claim, declare, maintain, profess, submit; authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verifyAntonyms acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, confirm, own

2 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 belie, confound, confute, debunk, disconfirm, discredit, falsify, rebut, disprove, shoot downRelated Words overthrow, overturn; challenge, contest, query, question; doubt, mistrust; debate, discuss, hash (over), moot, talk overNear Antonyms document, evidence, evince, record, show, support, witness; back (up), buttress, corroborate, substantiate; adduce, attest, authenticate, certify, identify; demonstrate, display, illustrate, manifestAntonyms confirm, establish, prove, validate, verify