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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refute
Through reps, Marr refuted Mozz’s claims.
—
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
To me, debate is about forming your own arguments and pushing yourself to refute curveball counters.
—Ashanty Rosario, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2025
Both Kraft and Goodell have refuted the claim.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The Department of Homeland Security refuted Othmane's claims about conditions inside the ICE facility.
—Nick Mordowanec
billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refute
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
To me, debate is about forming your own arguments and pushing yourself to refute curveball counters.
—Ashanty Rosario, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2025
Both Kraft and Goodell have refuted the claim.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The Department of Homeland Security refuted Othmane's claims about conditions inside the ICE facility.
—Nick Mordowanec
billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refute
Verb
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Alan Jackson, a lawyer for Joaquin, denied the charges.—
Luc Cohen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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As press secretary, Jean-Pierre repeatedly denied reports regarding Biden’s mental fitness during his time in office.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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About two hours later, the US Air Force dropped military flares in the sky, with rumors stating this was an attempt to cover up and discredit the UFO incident that occurred earlier in the evening.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
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Eventually, however, Lowell’s ideas were discredited—Schiaparelli, once an ally, renounced them—and the world moved on.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But Democrats have long conceded that the party needs a new vision after voters soundly rejected their presidential ticket last fall, and internal squabbles about the party’s future have spilled out into the public.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
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China has rejected the accusation and accused the Philippines of damaging the coral reef ecosystem in the waterway instead.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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Skeptics claimed that the researcher did not factor in findings from the 1978 Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP) that could disprove the theory of the cloth being artwork, such as a lack of pigment and the details of the blood stains, which are detectable with UV technology.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And not a single Democrat then contradicted them or criticized them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Sep. 2025
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The Republican president insisted that his tough talk didn't contradict his fixation on being recognized for diplomatic efforts, saying peace must be made from a position of strength.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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An outside hearing examiner overturned the December dismissal of Matthew Krueger, saying there was no cause to support any disciplinary action, according to a Facebook post by the Fort Worth Police Officers Association.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
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The administration contends the law is unconstitutional, asserting an expansive view of presidential power that could prompt the Supreme Court to overturn what remains of its 90-year-old precedent upholding such removal protections.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Every later sleuth, including Kuriyama and Honan, needs to grapple with Nicholl, if only to rebut him.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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Starmer could have rebutted this, pointing to the Conservatives’ vastly more numerous 121 seats.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The gathering, billed as a briefing rather than a fullblown hearing, included a slate of experts in science, defense and technology who discussed with members of Congress how understanding the unexplained phenomena could lead to scientific breakthroughs and enhance national security.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
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Still, Highmark would not discuss L’s case in any detail, citing patient privacy.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refute. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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