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Refute Definition – Meaning And Usage In A Sentence

Refute Definition – Meaning And Usage In A Sentence

Not everybody is an excellent speaker or writer. It takes learning and practicing countless words to avoid obvious mistakes. Start your journey to the professional level by understanding the “refute definition, meaning, and usage;” you will be happy to use the word when writing or speaking correctly.

The term “refute” means to deny or oppose through evidence that a statement or an opinion stated earlier is wrong or false. In sentences, the words disprove and contest are the most common replacement for this word.

An individual word can change the entire structure of a sentence; instead of using a cluster of words. Some words will even show your experience as an English speaker or writer. That notwithstanding, it’s essential to understand the words origin, several meanings, and pronunciation. We detail all that when it comes to the word refute.

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What is the Definition of Refute?

Refute means overthrowing or renouncing an argument or accusation by showing evidence. Here, you use proof that something currently viewed as accurate is false. Words such as confute or rebut are acceptable synonyms of the term refute.

The word is also used with an object since it is a verb. Using the phrase in this context is always accompanied by evidence to support your claim—the word best suits scientific research or in a courtroom session, where you can dispute an individual’s research or presentations through proof.

Here are example sentences:

  • Three days after publishing his cancer research, Gerald said he had started plans to refute his publication.
  • Despite credible evidence tabled before the court that they altered the gas emissions numbers, Volkswagen will still refute the claims to this day.
  • If I were you, I would not refute her insider trading claims without going through the report she wrote.

Does Refute Mean the Same as Oppose?

While the words generally mean to be in opposition to someone or something, they still have different meanings. Refute means to prove something usually thought of to be correct as false. Oppose attempts to halt or stop something or someone’s progression through physical means. Therefore, you cannot use these words in the same context despite their similarities.

Does Refute and Refuse Mean the Same Thing?

These two words both describe a situation where an individual gets denied something. They also have very close spellings. However, these words contrast in meaning.

Refute means finding a statement or an accusation false, whereas refuse means rejecting or declining something offered to you. It’s important to note that the word refute once meant to reject something, but people no longer use the term for that definition only.

Does Refute Mean the Same as Rebuke?

When pronouncing these two words, they might sound similar. That is why many people assume that they also have the same meaning. Nevertheless, these two words differ in meaning.

While refute means disproving a statement, a rebuke means telling someone off or calling them out for doing something wrong. These words cannot apply as synonyms.

What is the Meaning of Refute?

The word “refute” also means to show or prove something to be incorrect. You may also define the term as denying the truth or validity of something. This word is a transitive verb and is also used in its present tense form (refutes), present participle (refuting), and past tense (refuted).

When someone refutes anything, they claim that it’s not correct. Such people refute claims by presenting evidence or a compelling argument about why the current statement is not valid. You may use this word in literary situations where individuals counter each other’s ideas with others or proof.

Here are some sentences with the word refute:

  • Winston will quickly refute any suggestions Ashley tables in the meeting since they do not see eye to eye.
  • Kyrie Irving might be a great basketball player, but he does not like those who refute that there is more to scoring.
  • It’s easy to refute any rumor spread about you when few people know your name but not so much when you’re famous.

What is the Difference between Refutation and Counter Argument?

For a counterargument, the individual acknowledges the opponents’ opinions or points for taking a particular stand. With a refutation, however, the individual disproves the opposing side’s claim or stands by presenting evidence to disprove their arguments. It is important to note that the term refutation applies primarily in formal settings, especially in the legal space.

What Does Refute Mean in the Bible?

Do you know that this word was common in Biblical times? People used it to show that something is erroneous by argument or tabling evidence.

How Do You Refute?

While to refute is to prove something wrong, there are ways to do this. You may use this method best in a classroom or debate context.

  1. Restate the argument you’re challenging.
  2. State your objection to the statement.
  3. Prove your objection using valid evidence.
  4. Conclude your statement.

How to Use Refute in a Sentence

Sometimes, the word refute might not fit well in a particular sentence. That means you can use the word in different forms. The word “refute” changes when used as a noun, adverb, and adjective.

The following section shows you how to use the word in its different versions.

When Used as a Noun

The word changes to refutation when used as a noun. The new word describes the state or act of disproving something perceived right as wrong. You may also use the word refuter, meaning a person that refutes a statement, or refutability, indicating the ability to get refuted.

Have a look at these sentences below:

  • The refutation of the brothers’ idea while on their show did not shake their confidence in their product.
  • I believe he is a real-life refutation of what he stood for, which is sad because he hoped to go places.

When Used as an Adverb

The word refute changes to refutably. The new word describes how a statement or something is being refuted. Use the words refutatively or refutationally as adverbs of the word refute.

Here are some sentence examples:

  • He decided to refutably change all the clauses that would have seemed problematic before the presentation.
  • Once everyone settled down, he got up and refutably denied what everyone thought was the reason for the meeting.

When Used as an Adjective

The word’s adjective form is refutable. This word form describes something you can prove wrong or false. Words such as refutative and refutational are also acceptable adjectives of the word refute.

Here are some examples for you:

  • Some people would not like to change several clauses of the rule book, but fortunately, that document is refutable.
  • The fact that such people exist in America is not refutable; however, stern action is necessary against them.

10 Examples of Refute in a Sentence

There is no better way to learn how to use words in sentences than checking out examples in different contexts. Learn from the following ten examples of the word refute.

  1. The opposition argued that former President Donald Trump was lying and manipulative, an opinion he stood up to refute.
  2. Many people face a situation they don’t understand and believe the only way to avoid it is to refute its existence.
  3. Russia will still refute claims that its incursion in Ukraine is justified and will stop at nothing until it reaches its goal.
  4. Many scientists still have issues with Dr. Norman’s recent research but don’t have enough data to refute it.
  5. Rony has today taken to social media to refute claims of abuse towards his wife and children last week.
  6. Some people believe there is no line between science and magic; however, I’d like to refute this claim with evidence.
  7. Many people think Greenwood is guilty of harassment claims against him, but his fans still refute these allegations.
  8. The Range Rover continues to refute claims that its Sport version is quite unreliable after hitting the 20,000km mark.
  9. I advised my client to refute the claim by his ex-wife since there was no solid evidence against him so far.
  10. I don’t think the insurance company would refute his claim after the accident unless he made the entire thing up.

How Do You Spell Refute?

The best way to spell the word refute is R.E.F.U.T.E.

How Do You Pronounce Refute?

The term “refute” is best pronounced as [ruh] [fyoot].

How Many Syllables Are In Refute?

The word “refute” has two syllables; -re and –fute.

Synonyms Of The Word “Refute”

  • Oppose
  • Disprove
  • Repudiate
  • Contradict
  • Counter
  • Invalidate

Antonyms Of The Word “Refute”

  • Give in
  • Concede
  • Support
  • Approve
  • Allow
  • Go along

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History & Etymology of Refute

In the mid-1510, the word refute was used to define rejection. The term initially came from the French word réfuter and the Latin word refutare, meaning “to push or drive back, disprove and to repel.” The word combines re, which means “back,” and futare, meaning “to beat.” The word was later used to mean “to deny” and then morphed to “proving someone wrong.”

When Was Refute First Used?

The first time refute was used with its current meaning was back in 1545

Conclusion

From poems, novels, course books to newspapers, all the information contained in these publications is made possible through sentences. Therefore, it’s crucial to construct sentences correctly to convey a complete thought. One of the best ways of achieving this is through using newly learned words such as refute precisely.