as in disproving
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1
as in denying
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discrediting
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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Recent Examples of refuting
Mark Conway, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
That’s not refuting the secrecy.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
Amidst the other claims, this one has hit hard at Beast Industries, and the company got quite personal in refuting it.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
At the start of Thursday’s stream, Feherty offered up a general criticism of the integrity of news organizations while refuting the reports.
—Matt Moret, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
The documentary is already stirring up buzz due to Odom’s recent comments refuting some of the details and recollections from his ex-wife Khloé Kardashian.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Gould had re-released his own book with new material refuting those arguments.
—Megan Molteni, STAT, 7 Apr. 2026
Late in the evening, the sheriff's office posted that no injuries or deaths had been reported from the storm, refuting social media rumors.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2026
But the company is refuting the claims.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
King’s break with Johnson was not about refuting his historic contributions.
—Mark Conway, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
That’s not refuting the secrecy.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
Amidst the other claims, this one has hit hard at Beast Industries, and the company got quite personal in refuting it.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
At the start of Thursday’s stream, Feherty offered up a general criticism of the integrity of news organizations while refuting the reports.
—Matt Moret, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
The documentary is already stirring up buzz due to Odom’s recent comments refuting some of the details and recollections from his ex-wife Khloé Kardashian.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Gould had re-released his own book with new material refuting those arguments.
—Megan Molteni, STAT, 7 Apr. 2026
Late in the evening, the sheriff's office posted that no injuries or deaths had been reported from the storm, refuting social media rumors.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2026
But the company is refuting the claims.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuting
Verb
-
Organizations can also be barred for promoting what the agency calls delegitimization campaigns against Israel; for denying the existence of Israel as a democratic state; or for employing an officeholder who has called for a boycott of Israel.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
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In March, the Eighth District Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling denying the 2024 petition.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
Verb
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My fear is that poor implementation and, above all, a failure to take accountability seriously will end up discrediting good ideas.—
Rachel Canter,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
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In April 2024, Hayden agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty for violating conflict of interest law by allowing his office to issue an official press statement aimed at discrediting his primary opponent, Arroyo, days before the election.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the system kept rejecting it, saying my Colorado driver license wasn’t from the United States.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
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When Nita rebuffs the advances of the lightweight cad Christophe (who’s Pierre’s brother), that’s the one focused emotion in the movie — a woman rejecting workplace harassment.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Verb
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South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson disagreed with the court overturning Murdaugh's convictions, reports NBC News.—
Daniel S. Levine,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
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Wilson disagreed with the decision of the South Carolina Supreme Court overturning Murdaugh’s convictions and vowed to retry the case by the end of the year.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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The witness who identified Castorena as the shooter gave contradictory statements about what the suspect looked like throughout the investigation and trial, leading to the case being overturned.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
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The latter question seems to weigh profoundly on Hamaguchi, whose films feel at once meticulously calibrated and wildly audacious, and who here manages, as never before, to make those seemingly contradictory impulses coexist as one.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Verb
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While this might not be too surprising to many, 36 is the average age of players today — contradicting the common stereotype of a medium dominated by kids, tweens and young teens.—
Marc Saltzman,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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Instead of contradicting Austen’s depictions, the series adds context and interiority, giving Mary a growth arc that highlights her similarities to the author’s archetypal heroines.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The newest data fits a trend, alongside news that Chicago once again has the country’s busiest airfield and is a top tourist destination, disproving the narrative that the city is shrinking, said Erin Connelly, communication director for Mayor Brandon Johnson.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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In January, Kennedy appointed 21 new members to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, many of whom have tied the existence of autism to vaccines, despite an overwhelming scientific consensus disproving that association.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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One of the film’s biggest reflections involves a heady discourse on dialectical materialism, a complicated philosophical principle based on how opposing forces and contradictions fuel change.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
18 May 2026
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So when Hernández arrived with the Oklahoma City Comets to continue his rehab assignment on Tuesday, the opposing fans greeted him with a thunderous ovation.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refuting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuting. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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