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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refutes
Washington has boosted claims that attacks on Nigerian Christians by militants constitute genocide — a characterization the Nigerian government strongly refutes.
—
Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 1 Apr. 2026
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
Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 1 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refutes
Verb
-
Charter, which denies wrongdoing, argued in its motion to dismiss that any damages paid to the family for Lyons’ death should come from a worker’s compensation claim, not a wrongful death lawsuit.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In her statement to Vanity Fair, Kathrin denies the company was in difficulties.—
Simon Akam,
Vanity Fair,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Yet despite its popularity, research discredits this long-standing belief.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Olsson rejects The Athletic’s offer to take cover inside the coffee shop.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
If the council rejects the one-year contract — which would cost $150,000 and provide 50 cameras at a maximum of 20 intersections — Johnston’s administration has said the program will shut down.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Simpler flight design The concept overturns the idea that shock waves must be reduced.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The decision overturns decades of practice during which immigrants without criminal convictions typically received bond hearings during their immigration cases.—
Audrey McAvoy,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Civil rights leaders and legal advocates echo ACLU’s view, arguing the administration’s position contradicts both the Constitution and long-standing precedent.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
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LeVota’s candidacy for county executive directly contradicts one of his most frequent and emphatic campaign promises leading up to his interim tenure.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
31 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 TikTok health trends Ashley discusses required some quick education.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Colm Tóibín discusses his new collection, The News from Dublin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refutes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refutes. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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