1
as in denies
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 discredits
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 refutes
Browsh refutes the idea the NFL chose Bad Bunny as a political stunt.
—
Jake Angelo, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Data consistently refutes the idea that theaters and streaming are in a zero-sum battle for different audiences.
—Joseph M. Singer, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
The clear video evidence starkly refutes the party line.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
That statement alone refutes claims that IHRA is meant to silence debate.
—David Moore, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026
This definitive non-detection directly contradicts earlier hints and fully refutes claims from experiments such as Neutrino-4, which reported positive evidence for such a signal.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Dec. 2025
And refutes this idea that dinosaurs were in decline before the asteroid struck.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Like Dunbar’s speakers, Hughes’s dispossessed have no way out, and the poem implicitly refutes optimism regarding the Great Migration and racial progress.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Ex-contractor likens Gaza aid effort to 'The Hunger Games,' former employer refutes claims One meal a day.
—Gram Slattery, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Jake Angelo, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Data consistently refutes the idea that theaters and streaming are in a zero-sum battle for different audiences.
—Joseph M. Singer, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
The clear video evidence starkly refutes the party line.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
That statement alone refutes claims that IHRA is meant to silence debate.
—David Moore, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026
This definitive non-detection directly contradicts earlier hints and fully refutes claims from experiments such as Neutrino-4, which reported positive evidence for such a signal.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Dec. 2025
And refutes this idea that dinosaurs were in decline before the asteroid struck.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Like Dunbar’s speakers, Hughes’s dispossessed have no way out, and the poem implicitly refutes optimism regarding the Great Migration and racial progress.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Ex-contractor likens Gaza aid effort to 'The Hunger Games,' former employer refutes claims One meal a day.
—Gram Slattery, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refutes
Verb
-
The White House denies the comment.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Read more from Damian on the web of connections and where Nikolic, who denies any wrongdoing, has landed.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The praiseworthyness of having both sides of the debate evaporates when the host actively discredits the expert and reflexively enhances the legitimacy of the conspiracy theorist.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
1 Dec. 2025
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Yet despite its popularity, research discredits this long-standing belief.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If your child rejects a new dish, don't give up hope.—
Barrie Gillies,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
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Many expect a work stoppage — and possibly the cancellation of games for the first time since 1995 — as the MLB owners push for a salary cap and the players union rejects one.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If a team successfully overturns a call, the challenge is retained.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
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The decision immediately overturns the sweeping tariffs that Trump enacted last year on most imports.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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UniQure said that contradicts the agency’s past guidance that the company could seek approval with trial data that compared UniQure’s treatment to an external database of people with Huntington’s disease.—
Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
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But his pitch for new revenue contradicts the Republican position.—
Mary Murphy,
Twin Cities,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tootles’ death disproves this, showing that a hybrid being can die under extreme circumstances.—
Leia Mendoza,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
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Needs teeth Reforms are being reversed not because data disproves the need, but because the politics now allow retreat.—
Hansel Alejandro Aguilar,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As a result, these corners are areas where misinformation is more prolific—and the science that debunks that misinformation receives little mention, if at all.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
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The department also debunks a myth suggesting a furnace works harder than usual to warm spaces that have been left cooler, which would defeat the purpose of temporarily lowering the temperature to optimize savings.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The latest episode of Inside Inter Miami discusses those questions with reactions from coach Javier Mascherano and defender Maxi Falcon.—
Andre Fernandez,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
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There is a moment of suspense between the runway and the boutique that everyone in the fashion industry knows well, but rarely discusses out loud.—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refutes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refutes. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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